“Nadal, Federer, Berdych, Verdasco and other players from time to time, said: “I have a medical problem, please call Michael, please.” Physio MICHAL NOVOTNY (36) is an absolute ace tennis player, the best and most popular. However, he also worked as a physiotherapist in the main ATP tour. Recently, however, surprisingly left the prestigious function. He accepted a lucrative offer from the Latvians Ernestse Gulbis. “I’ll ride with him on all the tournaments and training camp,” Novotny said in an interview with Tennis magazine Arena.
Your departure from the ATP was a surprise. How difficult it was to quit? “For the ATP, I worked for ten years. During that time I was more than two hundred fifty tournaments, attended more than two thousand interventions on the court and I treated more than fifteen thousand injuries. Recently, I did not feel that it is more professionally improving. In the past I had several other offers, but I felt that I had to learn much more than if I go somewhere else. I knew that in working with one player is not enough just to be able to heal wounds, but they must prove they prevent. Any change is difficult, everything has its plus and minus … “
How was born cooperation with Gulbis? “With Ernest I established a closer relationship after his injury at French Open. He asked me if he could heal with me in Spain. We worked six hours a day and a few days before the end of treatment Ernests father arrived . Then I got an offer from him. Wimbledon was my last tournament, where I worked for the ATP. “
You will now work exclusively for Gulbis? “Ernest comes from sports and artistic family. His fifteen sister Laura also plays tennis, seventeen year old brother Kristof golf again. Both have serious chances to make much. Whenever possible, I will look after them well in tournaments but only work for Ernest.The other tennis players do I care only loosely on my clinic in Tenerife.”