http://hbl.fi/text/sport/2007/10/10/d6477.php
Australian happy about the income
It should have been Benji Becker, but Jarkko Nieminen’s opponent today in the Stockholm Open is Peter Luczak.
In Finland the 28 year old Australian of average heigh is known for his finalist appearance in the Tampere Open this summer.
Luczak isn’t a player that Nieminen needs to fear. His latest assignment was made easier that Becker lost 2-6 6-3 6-4 to the “Aussie”.
Luczak is married to a Swede. This is his first year in the top 100 and he is unusual that he is reaching the peak of his career at an older age.
“Of course I have been trying to reach there for 6 years and it feels good. But also enjoy the effects. Now all of a sudden I am among the top 90, lately in the 80s. Luczak is now ranked 84th, his best ever.
The Australian who plays with steadiness and placement is unusual among the Australians who is at his best on clay. 19 out of his last 20 events have been on clay, except for the US Open on hardcourt, which strongly indicates a Nieminen win.
“I was actually in a Challenger final in Spain last week and played 5 Spaniards on slow clay. After a long trip here on Monday morning I had no absolutely no expectations. It was my first hardcourt event in ages and I could only hit one ball, but the following time it got better and yesterday I hit with “Pim-Pim” Johansson and it already felt decent.
Met twice
Jarkko Nieminen is familiar with Peter Luczak. “We are good friends and I have respect or him as a player, he is a good fighter” says Luczak.
“We have met twice. It was a long time ago in Sydney 2003. It was my first ever match on the ATP tour and I was so nervous that I lost the 1st set 6-0. But I was able to get it to a 3rd set and Jarkko successfully won 7-5.
In a Czech Challenger on clay in 2005 Niemien won 6-4 6-4.
Luczak is so far satisfied with the Stockholm Open. He has made the 2nd round in both singles and doubles. Better than he expected.
“Good money for me about 15 200 euro. Now I can provide food towards the baby for a week”, smiled the fair haired Aussie who was born in Poland.