At 36, Robert Continues Top 100 Ascent With Challenger Success
At 36, Robert Continues Top 100 Ascent With Challenger Success
Most players are starting to wind down their singles careers in their 30s, but Stephane Robert has been peaking in his.
The 36-year-old from France has made a remarkable push this year back into the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings. He won the $50,000 ATP Challenger Tour event this February in New Delhi, India, then finished as runner-up the following month at the $100,000 tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. Robert even gave World No. 1 Novak Djokovic all he could handle last week in a tight two-set loss at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Rome.
Having started the year at No. 208 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Robert is now comfortably back inside the Top 100 at No. 89. He’s now hoping for a deep run on home soil at Roland Garros, having been granted direct entry into the main draw following a strong start to the season on the ATP Challenger Tour.
“I didn’t have a lot of confidence coming into this year, so the beginning I’ve had is surprising for me,” said Robert. “This is the best beginning I’ve had in my 15-year career.”
Although injuries pulled him out of the Top 100 in 2010 (the same year he reached his career-high Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 61) and again in 2014, Robert has enjoyed many of the ATP Challenger Tour events he’s played while rebuilding his ranking. He had particularly good things to say about the $50,000 tournament this April in Turin, Italy.
“The organization there is very good and I really liked the stadium,” said Robert. “I also liked the history and architecture of the city.”
With relatively minimal points to defend until late fall, it’s possible that Robert could even surpass his current career-high Emirates ATP Ranking before the end of the year. However, the Frenchman said he isn’t thinking about the possibility and is only concerned about the next match in front of him.
“I’ve never worried about what my ranking is. If you think about this, you won’t have the same positive results,” said Robert. “I just focus on each match so I can play with full focus and without pressure.”