Jaume Munar beat Frances Tiafoe in straight sets but he had to wait anxiously the result of the evening match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Hubert Hurkacz to be sure of his qualifying semifinal spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals at Fiera Milano.
The 4-1 4-3 4-1 win achieved by Tsitsipas in the second evening match granted a spot in the top four to Munar.
“I am really happy to be in Milan, sharing the courts with guys I have known from a long time ago, when we played each other a lot of times in the under 16 tournaments and also ITF Juniors. This is special. It is my best year, so I am looking forward to taking part in the whole event. The main goal at the beginning of the year was to finish the season in the top 100. I already achieved this goal and it led the way for me to be in Milan for the first time”,said Munar.
It was a great result for the 21-year-old from Santanyi, a municipality on the Spanish Island of Mallorca. Munar trains at the famous Rafael Nadal Academy by Movistar and has a special relationship to the “King of Clay”. He is coached by Tomeu Salva Vidal, one of the best Nadal’s friends.
“When I started training at the Rafa Nadal Academy, Rafa was just a work planner, but he is now a friend to me. Rafa Nadal is a role model for every young player in Spain. He is trying to help me as much as he can. He thinks first of all that the most important thing is to be a single person like he is, and then to work as much as I can and dream as I can. He is just helping a lot to show me as far as I go. Since the first moment I was at the academy I am feeling really comfortable”, said Munar.
In July 2017 Munar won a title on the ATP Challenger Tour in Segovia following in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin Del Potro, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez, who won the past editions of this tournament.
Munar is the youngest Spanish player in the top 100 and is currently ranked world number 76 in the ATP Ranking. Since the end of 2017 he has moved up 112 positions in the ATP Ranking.
During a successful 2018 season he won two ATP Challenger tournaments in Prostejov and Caltanissetta and reached his first ATP Tour semifinal at the Generali Open in Kitzbuehl, where he beat Robin Haase and Taro Daniel before losing to Martin Klizan.
“I was not prepared for Wimbledon after playing so much on clay before that. Then I had some physical problems and my feeling was not the best one., but I was still working hard with my team and believing in my work. I turned things around in Gstaad. I won a match and then lost to Roberto Bautista Agut. I played good tennis there and then in Kitzbuhel. Winning against a guy like Robin made me more confident. He is a better player than me”.
At Grand Slam level he qualified for the Australian Open before losing to Gael Monfils in the first round. He came back from two sets down to beat his idol David Ferrer at Roland Garros before losing to Novak Djokovic in the second round in straight sets.
“I was proud of myself because of the flight I made from two sets to love down Ferrer is a legend for me. I was just trying to go point by point and set by set. Ferrer has been an idol for me since childhood. Winning that match was a turning point in my career. He is a great player not just for me but for everybody who plays tennis, especially in Spain. That match helped me reach a good level, which I did also playing Novak Djokovic on the Suzanne Lenglen. The characteristics of the Grand Slams play in my favour. I am feeling comfortable in long matches. I am feeling comfortable in long matches and five sets give me to be ready. I am confident in these kind of matches. I did well in the Grand Slams this year. They are the biggest stages where everybody looks forward to playing well. I feel really excited when I am there in a big house with everybody watching”.
Munar is a clay specialist and achieved his best results on this surface, but the first tournaments he dreams winning are the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
“My dream is to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon. I love Melbourne and every time I go there, I feel at home. Wimbledon represents the history of tennis. I am still focused on 2018 and the Next Gen ATP Finals. That is the most important thing for me right now. I will see how I finish my season and then speak with my team about 2019. I know I have to be more regular in my tournament results during the years ahead. I can improve everything in my game from my forehand and my backhand to my serve. Physically I can get stronger. I know I will always try to improve”.
Munar shared the same “Jimbo” nicknamed as Jimmy Connors.
“It comes from my character and my way to be on the court. A long time ago, a coach of the Spanish Federation called me Jimbo as a joke. Now most of the people are calling me Jimbo. Jimmy was a great player, so why not to be compared with him ?”.
Outside the tennis court Munar is a great fan of Barcelona football team. He enjoys reading and playing golf, watching films and listening to music and started studying economics at the University.
“I don’t share the same football passion as Rafa, because he supports Real Madrid. I was lucky to have the chance to attend the UEFA Champions League football match between Inter and Barcelona at San Siro Stadium”.
