It’s very simple. Zizou Bergs plays Tommy Paul on Wednesday in the last 16 in Shanghai, and he plays in Brussels on Tuesday 20th. I said it back in January: the calendar is the real opponent. Nobody listens to me.
A year ago, same story. Quarter-final in China, lost to Djokovic. Then back in Belgium completely fried, according to the DH (a Belgian daily): the effort, the decompression, the trip, the jet lag. First round at the European Open, beaten by Raphaël Collignon. I had warned them. Well, I had warned the bar at the Léopold, that counts.
Now, the question. If he loses on Wednesday, he arrives fresh in Brussels, and I was right. If he wins in Shanghai, it’s talent, and I was right again, since I always saw him in the quarters. Careful, I’m not saying the opposite of what I said. I’m clarifying.
Me, in Kitzbühel, in ’92, I was coming back from… well, from Uccle, or Waterloo. But the time difference was there. An hour, two maybe, memory varies. I played the next day against a future top 10, and I made him doubt. Ninety percent of fatigue is in the head, and I’m being generous.
And don’t think this is a Belgian problem. Auger-Aliassime and Ruud meet on Wednesday in Shanghai, both announced for Brussels. Davidovich Fokina, van de Zandschulp, same. The Heysel draw is in China, right?
I’m not criticising. I’m comparing. Whoever made the calendar isn’t the one taking the plane.
So my forecast is ready, both ways. I’ll sign it on Tuesday evening.
It’s true, we checked: DH Les Sports+.
