Earlier this season at Roland Garros, Aleksandar Kovacevic thrived when tasked with the chance of tackling Novak Djokovic, the now-24-time main champion, on his Grand Slam debut. The American confirmed spectacular firepower towards the record-breaking legend, taking the eventual champion in Paris to a 3rd set tie-break when crushed 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1).
Ahead of his ATP Tour debut in China on Thursday on the Huafa Properties Zhuhai Championships, Kovacevic took a while to marvel at an enormous of a distinct variety as he watched whale sharks throughout a day of thrills at a close-by theme park. Along with fellow main-draw opponents together with Sebastian Korda, he visited the world’s greatest ocean-themed resort, the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom.
The 25-year-old Kovacevic is a nature-lover who built-in open air actions, together with mountain climbing and sky diving, into his coaching routines on the behest of his former University of Illinois school coach Brad Dancer.
“I used to go mountain climbing quite a bit once I was coaching in California. I used to be in Sacramento, and there was not a lot to do round there, so I needed to discover methods to have enjoyable,” he mentioned. “We used to drive to a number of the coasts and discover some random locations to hike, and it was all the time good, however seeing issues like that is virtually a step above that.”
Sebastian Korda was among the many group who spent the day on the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom. Photo Credit: ATP Zhuhai Championships.
Kovacevic, who peaked at No.101 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in April, was raised in New York and has frolicked residing in Florida, Illinois and California. The World No.116, who will play Kimmer Coppejans in his first spherical match in Zhuhai, was astonished by the number of marine life on show on the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom.
“It is wild seeing them in individual. In our day-to-day lives, you neglect that nature produces a few of these wonderful animals. It is loopy to see,” he mentioned.
Kovacevic, who has posted robust outcomes on the ATP Challenger Tour since turning skilled in 2021, is not any stranger to assembly champions. As a 10-year-old he hit with former US Open winners John McEnroe and Andy Roddick at a World TeamTennis Match in New York. the two-time All American collegiate participant additionally had the enjoyment of assembly Djokovic early within the champion’s profession in 2005, earlier than the chance to play him introduced 18 years later.
After successful ATP Challenger Tour titles in Cleveland and Waco early within the season, and likewise successful a spherical as a qualifier in Miami, Kovacevic desires to complete the season strongly. Having reached the semi-finals in Seoul final September after coming by means of qualifying, he feels assured in his potential to reach Asia.
“This is my first time in China. I used to be in Korea final 12 months and I truly like Korea quite a bit,” he mentioned. “It has been wonderful to date. The resort, I believe, is the nicest resort I’ve stayed in in my total life.
“Just general, the hospitality has been nice. The event web site is nice and this expertise as we speak has been nice, so nothing however good issues to say to date.”
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Source: www.atptour.com