Late-blooming Marinko Matosevic believes “anything’s possible” after being rewarded for his impressive form surge with a wildcard into this week’s prestigious Miami Masters.
The 26-year-old Victorian has slashed his world ranking by almost 100 spots in two months to a career-high No.122 – and has no plans of stopping.
The ATP recognised Matosevic’s charge to the Delray Beach final from qualifying last month and second-round showing at the Indian Wells Masters with direct main draw entry into the $3.76 million “fifth major” in Florida.
“I feel like I’m playing some really good tennis, so anything’s possible now,” Matosevic told AAP.
“Miami gets windy, guys get injured, so hopefully I don’t get any of the top four guys early and the draw opens up for me.”
Matosevic’s hopes were realised on Tuesday when he avoided an early-round confrontation with top seeds Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer or Andy Murray.
He meets struggling Dutchman Robin Haase first up and is projected to play Murray in round four if he can continue his strong run.
After four straight first-round defeats to open the year, Matosevic burst to life with a Challenger title breakthrough on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast before reeling off seven successive wins to reach his maiden ATP Tour final at Delray Beach.
“To be honest, I feel like I’ve been playing some really good tennis since last year’s US Open,” he said.
“I got a wildcard there as well but I injured my ankle in the first couple of games against (Juan Ignacio) Chela.
“I just didn’t have any matches under my belt, but I still managed to qualify for a few events after that basically on one leg and then it all really turned around for me in Caloundra.
“I got through one long, tight match in particular in the quarter-finals. That gave me some confidence and that was the start of it.”
Matosevic also thrived after being handed his Australian Davis Cup debut last July.
“That was big,” he said.
“Pat Rafter and Tony Roche and Todd Woodbridge have shown great faith in me, despite some disappointing results.
“I think it’s every kid’s dreaming growing up in Australia to play Davis Cup.”
Matosevic’s other big aim is to crack a grand slam match win after 13 failed attempts to make it beyond round one.
“That’s the goal – first to make the top 100 which would give me direct entry to all the slams and most ATP events and then to win a match,” he said.
“The slams are where you want to play your best tennis.”
Matosevic joins seven other Australians in Miami, where the world’s top 10 men and nine of the top 10 women are all competing.
Bernard Tomic opens against Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky, while Matthew Ebden – also at a career-high No.78 after making the last 16 at Indian Wells – faces American Sam Querrey.
Women’s sixth seed Samantha Stosur has a first-round bye, Jarmila Gajdosova takes on Kim Clijsters, Jelena Dokic meets Russian Ekaterina Makarova and wildcard Olivia Rogowska will play a qualifier.
