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Men's Qualifying Singles - Round 1
Duckhee Lee (KOR) defeats Nicolas Kicker (ARG) [5] 5-7 7-5 6-1
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| 멜버른 <헤럴드 선> 기사 | ||
한국 테니스 기대주 이덕희가 짜릿한 역전승으로 호주오픈 예선 2라운드에 진출했다. 그야말로 이덕희의 끈기가 빛을 발한 승리였다.
이덕희(18세 • 현대자동차 • KDB산업은행 후원)가 11일 호주 멜버른 멜버른파크에서 열린 2017 호주 오픈(총상금 5백만 호주달러) 예선 1회전에서 니콜라스 키커(24세 • 아르헨티나 • 112위)를 세트스코어 2-1(5-7, 7-5, 6-1)로 꺾고 2회전에 안착했다.
이 날 첫 세트에서 이덕희는 2-2 상황에서 먼저 브레이크를 당했다. 줄곧 끌려가던 이덕희는 4-5에서 상대 서브게임을 브레이크해 5-5 동점을 만들었다. 하지만 내리 두 게임을 져 첫 세트를 먼저 내줬다.
두번째 세트는 중반까지 첫 세트 패배의 여파가 이어졌다. 게임스코어 1-4까지 몰리면서 패색이 짙어지던 순간 이덕희는 두 게임을 연속으로 따내 반전의 계기를 만들었다. 이후 한 게임을 내줘 3-5 벼랑끝까지 몰린 이덕희는 놀라운 집중력을 보인 끝에 네 게임을 연속으로 따내 7-5로 승리 경기 분위기를 완전히 뒤집었다. 기세가 오른 이덕희는 세 번째 세트에서는 단 한 게임만을 내주고 6-1로 승, 완벽히 경기를 마무리했다.
승리를 따낸 이덕희는 “두 번째 세트에 들어가면서 쉽게는 지지 않겠다고 마음 먹었다. 솔직히 뒤지던 경기 따라붙을 때는 힘들어 죽을뻔했다. 역전으로 이겨 더 기쁘다"고 말했다. 이어 그는 "호주 오픈에서 좋은 성적을 내기 위해 열심히 준비했다. 이번 대회에서 첫 메이저 본선 무대에 오르고 싶다”고 밝혔다.
지난 해 열린 호주 오픈에서 메이저 대회 공식 데뷔전을 치른 이덕희는 이 날 승리로 호주 오픈 첫 승을 기록하게 됐다. 이덕희는 2013년 호주 오픈 주니어 부문에 출전하며 호주 오픈 신고식을 치렀고 2015년 대회에서는 8강에 오르며 본인의 주니어 무대 최고 성적을 기록한 바 있다.
한편 이덕희의 호주 오픈 출전에 대한 해외 언론의 관심도 뜨겁다.
경기 당일 세계적인 스포츠 전문 매체 폭스 스포츠(호주)에서 '주목할 만한 유망주 이덕희가 오늘 2017 호주 오픈 본선 진출을 향한 도전을 시작했다'며 이덕희의 호주오픈 출전 소식을 알렸다. 또한 지난 12월 한국에 촬영팀을 파견해 2박 3일간 이덕희를 취재한 미국 최대 테니스 전문매체 '더 테니스 채널'은 호주 오픈 기간동안 약 6분 가량의 다큐 영상을 전 세계에 방영할 예정이다.
한편 이덕희의 예선 2회전 상대는 브레들리 모슬리(21세 • 호주 • 330위)로 결정됐다.
아래는 호주 <헤럴드 선>의 이덕희 관련 기사.
Deaf tennis player Lee Duck-hee out to qualify for Australian Open, continue rankings rise
Liam Fitzgibbon, FOX SPORTS
an hour ago
LEE Duck-hee is a rising star of tennis with one remarkable, distinguishing feature from his rivals — he’s never heard the sound of the ball hitting his racquet.
The 18-year-old from South Korea is completely deaf, and has been since birth.
But it hasn’t prevented him rising rapidly up the ranks of a sport in which sound and the ability to hear is considered by many as essential.
Currently No.148 in the world, Lee is the highest-ranked deaf player in history and the second-highest ranked current player from a country of more than 50 million people.
Today, he begins his campaign to qualify for the Australian Open main draw, having come so close to clinching a grand slam debut last month — losing to Uzbek veteran Denis Istomin in the final of the Asia-Pacfic wildcard playoffs.
South Korean tennis player Lee Duck-hee.
Lee’s story is remarkable but he doesn’t want to define him. He understand why he’s gaining worldwide attention but wants to make headlines for his results and rankings.
“Even though am the highest-ranked ever deaf player, I do not care much about it,” he told foxsports.com.au, via a translator.
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“I always compete with the others who are non-disabled players.
“I want to get to a rank higher than I am now.
“My ambition is to get to the Australian Open (main draw) so I can have the chance to play with higher-ranking players. It’s a good opportunity to play with those players and I can learn many things.”
‘I’M NO DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS’
After discovering their infant son was deaf, Lee’s parents made a conscious decision to ensure he could live as “normal” a life as possible — teaching him to read lips instead of sign language.
“I wanted him to be integrated with normal people,” Lee’s mother Park Mi-ja told the New York Times last month.
He showed talent in various sports but quickly fell in love with tennis after going to watch his cousin play.
Since then Lee has continued to defy predictions his lack of hearing would cap his potential, rising from outside the top 1500 three years ago steadily toward the world’s top 100.
Many players and pundits have debated about the importance sound plays in tennis, claiming the noise off an opponet’s racquet offers vital a clues to the spin on, and trajectory of, a ball.
Lee, though, believes he’s showing sight can be sufficient — with the right amount of preparation and focus— and even claims there are some advtanges to his condition.
“I observe the opponent’s movement until the last moment while I’m playing,” Lee said.
“After and before the game, I watch other players’ match videos a lot.
“I don’t think I’m different from others.
“Rather, I can only concentrate on the game since I can’t hear any noises. So I don’t agree that (it will limit my potential).
“I was born deaf so have never heard strike sound but fortunately my visual acuity is fast enough to chase the balls.
“Having a problem with my hearing doesn’t really influence my performance.”
‘TENNIS IS EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE’
Not that deafness hasn’t presented it’s fair share of unique challenges — in areas that many tennis players may take for granted.
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Recognising ‘let’ calls if obviously difficult at times, along with other communication and understanding with the umpire.
“Judge signs are different, it depends on the chair umpire,” Lee said.
“There is no standard sign or gesture for the player. These two problems are the major ones but there are really no other problems and I’m able to concentrate on the game.”
Lee grew up idolising Roger Federer but he gets closer to the elite says he’s “not really into just one player but trying to absorb other famous players’ strengths”.
Lee after practice with Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2014.
The teenager began his qualifying campaign against Argentine fifth seed Nicolas Kicker in Melbourne on Wednesday, coming back from a set and double break down to win 5-7 7-5 6-1.
Should he manage to book his grand slam debut — and first ATP main draw berth — this week it would represent another remarkable milestone.
Lee has even bigger goals in mind but is in no rush, for now happy to enjoy carving out a career many would have thought impossible.
“My goals, for this year are winning a Challenger tournament and going to a grand slam (main draw),” he said.
“I really want to make a good result on the world tour.
“But I am really happy when I am in the tennis court. I wish to enjoy playing tennis just like now.
“Tennis is everything in my life.
“When I go on to the court, firstly I feel a bit nervous but it soon turns into a thrill.
“I wonder what it would feel like if I could win a grand slam title.
“I believe the day will come if I keep going.”
Originally published as The Australian Open’s most remarkable player
신동준 기자 technic0701@tennispeople.kr
