Grasscourt guns: Kirsten Flipkens

Published by Matt Trollope

Kirsten Flipkens in action during her three-set loss to No.9 seed Madison Keys in the second round at Wimbledon; Getty Images

On Thursday at Wimbledon, Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens gave No.9 seed Madison Keys an almighty scare before falling in three sets. 

On paper, a match between a top 10-ranked power-hitter and a diminutive veteran ranked outside the top 50 should have been a mis-match. But savvy fans will have noted Flipkens’ abilities on grass, remembering in 2013 her trip to the semifinals at Wimbledon and runner-up finish at ‘s-Hertogenbosch as well as her victory at junior Wimbledon a decade earlier.

Just a fortnight ago, she progressed to the last four at the new WTA grasscourt event in Mallorca.

The 30-year-old Flipkens sat down with tennismash after her match against Keys to discuss what exactly it is about her game that makes her the threat she is on this surface.

You pushed Keys, one of the title favourites, to three sets today. What did you think of the match, what did you do well, and what was the deciding factor?

“The second game of the third set she broke me, and then she was playing on a cloud, like we say in Belgium (smiling). Until 5-0 I couldn’t do anything in the third set. She was on fire, but then I held my serve, took a break back, and then you could feel she started hesitating a little bit. But still it was too late at that time. I know that I can play against anyone on grass; it doesn’t matter who’s in front of me. It’s just a little sad that I have to play Keys already in the second round because I took a lot of confidence in Mallorca two weeks ago – I beat Muguruza 3 and 4, I was in a good shape. I was ready. I was ready to go far again here. But that’s tennis. That’s the draw.”

You said you feel confident against anyone one grass. What is it about your game that translates so well to this surface?

“I think my game just suits grass. I can play serve-and-volley, I like to play slice, drop shot. I think it’s just the perfect game to play on grass.”

Of those things you just talked about – how did you come to develop that style of game? Was it something that came naturally, or did you have a coach when you were young who told you to play a certain way?

“I played like this since I was a young kid, so I didn’t really have to adapt to the grass. The first time I played on grass I made finals in Roehampton and won Wimbledon juniors. So that said enough already at that time; if you play the first tournament and you play finals and then you win the week after, that means that your game suits the grass. And since that time it’s of course my favourite surface. It’s just a shame that we don’t have more grass tournaments in the year.”

So you said that playing at Roehampton was the first time you saw a grass court. How old were you?

“17.”

So what was the experience like stepping on to such a different surface? I assume you grew up on clay?

“Yeah, clay, and hard court.”

So with a surface like grass that must look and feel quite different, what were your thoughts?

 

“I liked it straight away. I heard a lot of other coaches say already I should be able to play good on grass, but you have to see if they are right, you know? I grew up on clay and hard court, but I hate clay (laughter). But that doesn’t make a difference; I think it’s just my game that suits the grass better.”

Would you say the European grasscourt season is your favourite on the calendar?

“Yeah definitely. The grass season, since after French Open, starts already and we have four tournaments, but every grass is different. Here at Wimbledon is my favourite.”

How does the grass at Wimbledon compare to, say, the grass in Mallorca, or Birmingham?

“Well Mallorca was quite similar because the Wimbledon groundsmen were there to help and manage the courts there, and they did a really good job there because it was the first year they did it. I was a little bit scared in the beginning because going to Mallorca, at 30 degrees, you don’t know how the grass would be. But they did a really good job, they watered the courts, so that was quite similar, it was a good preparation tournament. But the week before that I played in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the courts were not that great, I have to say. So it’s a shame because you can only play three or four tournaments a year on grass and if already at one of the tournaments the grass is not that good, then that’s a shame a little bit. But that’s for everyone.”

So what’s your favourite stop on the tour? Is it Wimbledon?

“Yeah, for sure.”

And what are you memories of your semifinal run in 2013 here? Do you think back to that when you come back here in subsequent years?

“Yeah, definitely. When walking through the practice courts you just remember exactly like: played my first round there, second round there. I know exactly which court I’ve played every match on and against who. So it brings back a lot of good memories. I just feel at home here; for me it’s like a little playground (laughter).”

Which of the women currently playing today have a game that best suits grass?

“I think obviously Serena is always good on every surface. That’s why she’s the champion of the WTA, of women’s tennis. For the rest, I think there are many good players playing on grass. Like Lisicki, she’s a good player, she always plays well here as well. Madison I think is definitely one of the outsiders, I have to say, because she has a big serve, big forehand. Against me she maybe has a little more trouble because I have a different game but against the other 90 per cent of players I think her game suits well. She won Birmingham I think two weeks ago so she’s definitely in good shape.”

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