PUNE: Daniel Altmaier knows what confidence can do to a tennis player.
The 23-year-old German won three ATP Challenger titles last year to break into the top-100 in world rankings. But even before that, the Kampen native showed glimpses of his potential when, entering as a qualifier, he beat then No. 8 Matteo Berrettini to record a top-10 win in his maiden French Open main draw appearance in 2020.
"When I was playing Berrettini, I had already won five matches. I had a lot of confidence and wanted to stay in the rhythm," Altmaier, now ranked 85, told The Times of India on the side-lines of Tata Open Maharashtra on Wednesday.
"I didn't really worry who was on the other side. I think that mindset allowed me to win that match. Once you gain confidence, you are more focussing on yourself and putting on a great performance.
"You make less mistakes, you move quicker, you serve better. It becomes difficult for the opponent to beat you."
Altmaier put that confidence on display when he came back from a set down to beat Moldova's Radu Albot 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to move into the quarterfinals of the $494,000 ATP 250 Series event.
Another of those upcoming European clay court specialists with a natural one-handed backhand, the fifth seed's win was all the more remarkable given that he had played his first-round match against Prajnesh Gunneswaran under the lights, a complete contrast to the sunny, warm afternoon of the second round.
But adjusting to conditions on the tennis court must have been a cake-walk for the youngster who had to be on his own for the first 10 days after reaching Australia last month as his coach Francisco Yunis tested positive for Covid and had to be quarantined.
"It was a difficult start (to the year) in Australia. I was practising and putting a schedule alone, then losing a close match, and going to Sydney by myself," said Altmaier.
He lost in the first round in Adelaide, and then qualified for Sydney, where he went down to Fabio Fognini in Round 1, before biting the dust against Alexander Zverev in the first match at Australian Open.
But with Yunis, a former Argentine player who had worked with several top-100 players including Magnus Norman, back in business, Altmaier's level has picked up again, as could be seen from the way he outplayed Albot in the second and third sets.
Dealing with tough situations is nothing new to Altmaier. While most players pursue the No. 1 spot and Grand Slam glory in their junior days, Altmaier, who was persuaded by his parents to play the game for self-development, turned pro at the age of 16.
He opted for the hard grind on the ITF circuit early on, and is reaping the rewards now.
"Personally, it made me grow up early. Playing the grown men, playing for prize money and ATP points gave me extra motivation. I wanted to mature, gain experience pretty early," he said.
"The start was not easy. If you look back, they (opponents) might not have been the greatest of players but they were tough opponents. The transition to winning Futures and all came step by step. I am glad I took this road.
"I was also lucky. Financially I had someone supporting me in a very early stage. There is obviously the attractive part of going to the junior Grand Slams where the agents are around. Luckily for me I did not have that pressure."
Some players also opt for the US college tennis before turning pro, and Altmaier's view on the topic was interesting.
"I don't know. For me it (tennis scholarship) was personally never a choice. I feel I am not the right person in this subject to judge," he said.
"It depends on which state of mind you are in. If you feel ready and competitive to play pro, you can go right away. If you are ready to play many hours on court, maybe it is not a bad decision.
"In college tennis, maybe you forget the other things to work on - let us say, technique, individual physical work. I think this is a difficult aspect in college tennis.
"Everybody is doing the same thing and individually you are more productive in your own team. But I think this is for the individual (to choose).
"Some guys need the team support and team spirit. It is up to the (individual) personality."
