Benjamin Bonzi, before the Australian Open: “I have reached milestones”

Benjamin Bonzi hit some balls on December 20 at Carreau de Lanes, in Nîmes. Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

After a paradoxical year undermined by injuries, the 27-year-old Gardois, 73rd in the world and number 4 French at the end of 2023, is playing big at the start of the season. Notably at the Australian Open (January 14 to 28), where he reached the round of 16 last year.

For Benjamin Bonzi, the year 2024 started less well than the previous one. Finalist (surprise) in India, in Pune, at the beginning of January 2023, his first final on the major ATP circuit, the 27-year-old Gardois lost in the first round of the Hong Kong tournament, Monday January 1. A defeat against the future Finnish finalist Emil Ruusuvuori (69th in the world, 7-6, 2-6, 1-6) which will take him out of the top 100, the ranking being established over the last 52 weeks (one year). Bonzi will therefore lose the ATP points gleaned in India.

This was the risk at the start of the season for the Anduzien born in Nîmes. He was well aware of this when he spoke to Midi Libre on December 20 at Tennis Padel du Carreau de Lanes, on the occasion of the renewal of his partnership with the Bastide Médical group.

How is the best tennis player from Gard, from the Occitanie region (73rd at the end of 2023 just ahead of Richard Gasquet, 76th) and there is little from France (42nd in the world and n°1 national eleven months ago, Editor's note) ? 

Physically, I feel good, I no longer have pain in my wrist, and my shoulder leaves me alone. I managed to train without any problems for 4 to 5 weeks. We had time to really work this winter (with his coach Lionel Zimbler in Marseille). I hope it lasts throughout the year.

Wrist in Monte Carlo, hamstrings, shoulder, you were not spared last year. Are injuries inevitable on the circuit today, like those of Rafael Nadal ?

Inevitable, I don't know, but in any case, there are more and more of them, it's part of the game… We do our best all year round to try to avoid them, to prevent them as much as possible. Sometimes it's just bad luck. I think the circuit is more and more physically demanding, the players are better prepared too, there is therefore more intensity and the risk of injury is greater. You have to know how to accept it, bounce back, and try to avoid them in the future.

Bounce back, the future… precisely, what will your program be ?

After Hong Kong, I continue in Auckland (New Zealand, January 8 – 13) then with the Grand Slam in Melbourne. On the way back, I think I will go to Montpellier (January 28 & February 4) and Marseille. Afterwards, it's a bit vague, it will depend on my ranking. I have a lot of points to defend, that will determine what happens next. I try not to focus too much on it, not to put too much pressure on myself because it’s going to be an important moment. This must not make me lose my tennis.

In recent years, you have reached the milestones one by one (victories in Challenger, top 100, 3rd round in Grand Slam, Davis Cup, etc.) . Which one will you cross in 2024 ?

That’s a good question. If I can go further in Grand Slam and win my first tournament (on the big circuit), that would be good. The Paris Olympics ? I'm not thinking about it at the moment, I'm behind in qualifying. There are quite a few issues to resolve first: already, chain tournaments without stopping, because I spent a lot of time off the field and at home in 2023.

In the end, it’s the frustration that comes out. The results are quite paradoxical: it was not a complete season but it was the year where I had my best results between my two finals (ATP 250, Pune and Marseille) and my two 3rd rounds in Grand Slams (Australia and US Open). I have passed milestones. I feel more and more comfortable on the big circuit, the big tournaments, facing the big players. I have more points of reference. If I can get back into the 50s and go higher, it will be with great pleasure!

Medical bastide, contract and nutrition

PARTNERSHIP "It’is a pleasure to renew this contract with Bastide medical", confidedé Benjamin Bonzi signing it on December 20. It includes a financial component and an operational one, with the upgrading of provision of a nutritionist, Matthieu Jouy, Insep consultant who will be with the French athletics delegation for the Paris Olympics .

"We've done a lot of work together in recent months on food à very short term before matches, during and after, for recovery, explains the tennis player. With Bastide, we also plan to work on sleep." 

The Gard company could enter a team in the Davis Cup! It now has four players under contract: number 1 Fran&ccedil ;but in 2023 Ugo Humbert and three Gardois, the doubles specialist Fabrice Martin (Gardois), the promising Clément Chidekh and therefore Benjamin Bonzi.

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