Former Top 10 Player Kent Carlsson Recalls His Career Highlights

Former Top 10 player Kent Carlsson, who peaked at No. 6 in the rankings, says Bastad played a big role in his career - the Swede won the tournament for four years in a row - 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 when it was known as the Kalle Anka Cup.

Speaking to the Tennis.se website, Carlsson says, "I actually looked at the prizzes in my study the other day. There are seven small pieces from the victories in Sörmland. I won in Båstad for four years, but in 1983 it collided with the European Championship with the 16-year national team. I was only 15 years old and was supposed to represent my country, so the choice was not that difficult. I think I would have otherwise had a good chance of winning fifth straight in Båstad when I had to compete in my own age group. My career really started in Båstad. I especially remember one year. The day before the final of the competition in Sörmland, my brother and I had cycled around the block when his pedal ended up in my wheel. I rode a few laps before I landed. I was really beaten in the finals the following day, but managed to win and take me to Båstad. I went to the final in Båstad and would meet Jörgen Marklund. The day before the final, I had the idea that I would go gokart up the Hallandsåsen. I broke straight into a large rock and could barely get out of bed the morning after. A few hours later I would play the final. I anointed myself with tiger balm around all the wounds. The whole body burned during the final and the shower afterwards we should not talk about. It was a pure attitude issue to get started, because I was pretty bad at it. I had more or less flaws throughout my career. I was not born with a sports body, but I was stubborn and instead of feeling like that, I found solutions. For me it was fantastic, to play in Båstad had always been the dream. The inauguration at that time was incomparable, it was always packed and you had to march in landscape by placard. Everyone who was present at that time probably thinks that the opening was something very special."

Carlsson says he was inspired by his famous countryman Bjorn Borg. "We played a lot on the street at home where we lived. Everyone wanted to play tennis during the Borg era. We presented bikes as nets and improvised. I was playing table tennis, handball, football and bandy and I had no thoughts on betting on tennis. It had to be eight years to start tennis school at TK Hobby, but I got a dispensary and was able to play in the tennis school on the courts when I was seven, in the summer of 1975. Many were so obviously inspired by Björn Borg, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and that gang. It was almost impossible to book a course at the tennis club, so I played a lot against the fence. If anyone was late to the course they booked, then I ran there and played. I played more and more and as a ten year old I made pretty good results and it inspired me further."

Speaking about his career, which ended at the age of 22, Carlsson says, "If you look at my entire career, I had good fitness and strength. As a senior, I trained more outside than on the track. I had to do that for the body to hold together, it was a prerequisite for me to play good tennis. When I was at my best, I was pretty sure no one would beat me at fitness, but because the opponent was a better tennis player. I eventually accumulated enough points to enter the main tournaments. I have had a lot of fluency in my tennis. I did not have to fight in the small competitions, but entered the ATP tournaments. It was a fast way in and a quick transition from junior to senior and I think that was a lot thanks to the chance decision in the Orange Bowl. Instead of being ridiculed, I won. It was like taking the step from bike to Formula 1 car, with a little exaggeration maybe. I won in Nice and Bologna in 1987, but 1988 is the best year. In the final in Barcelona I met Thomas Muster. We were perhaps the two who had the best physique at that time and could last for a long time. It was like a title match for me. We were both in top form. I was rarely nervous when I entered the court for a final, but this time I was terribly nervous. I was impatient because it was a match that I simply refused to lose. I think my last match was in Kitzbühel 1989. I had a knee injury and was operated on after the season. I then trained hard to come back. I told my coach and my parents that now it must wear or burst. Either I become the best in the world or I quit. I posted my own training schedule which meant seven to eight effective hours a day, six of the seven days of the week. I was stronger than ever and felt incredibly good. However after an injury, I tested it during training, but it did not work. I went home to Eskilstuna and told about my decision for mom and dad and then I called my coach Lasse Eriksson that I was quitting. Everyone thought it was boring, but supported me in my decision. It was a very simple decision and I have had no anxiety whatsoever after that. I'm really happy about what I got to experience. Today I feel physically good and that is a confirmation that I did the right thing. There is a more important life after tennis to think about.

After dabbling in some coaching, Carlsson is now a horse trainer, something which he picked up from his father. "My dad was an amateur trainer and trained a horse that I became part owner of already at the age of 15. It was quite natural for me to do it after tennis."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2WhRmlp