Tennis: Laid-back Janowicz happy to be green on grass

Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz may be one of the highest-ranking men left in Wimbledon — but he’s not going to change his laid-back approach to match preparation.

The giant right-hander said 20 minutes’ notice is all he needs and he’s good to play.

Despite his quick-fire warm-up routine, and near-total lack of experience on grass, Janowicz is making waves at Wimbledon, where he has powered into the fourth round.

The 22-year-old, who faces Austria’s unseeded Jurgen Melzer on Monday for a place in the last eight, said he did not need to go through the lengthy preparation that others seem to do.

“It’s quite simple for me. I just have to hit 20 minutes before the match. Nothing special. After 20 minutes’ warm-up, small running, I’m ready to play,” he said.

Janowicz, who stands 2.03 metres tall, had only played four tour-level matches on grass going into Wimbledon 2013.

But the surface seems to suit him.

He beat Spain’s 15th seed Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (8/3), 6-3, 6-4 on Friday on the greatest grass court of them all, Wimbledon’s Centre Court, to reach the last 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time.

“The biggest problem with grass is I don’t have a chance to practice on grass because we don’t have any grass courts in Poland,” he said.

“So during one year I have basically only three weeks’ possibility to play on grass. So I have to like it somehow.

“I would rather play on a clay court or a hard court simply because I’m used to it. But with my game, I think grass suits me well.”

Janowicz, who had his breakthrough year in 2012, rising 195 places to finish at number 26, is now relishing his shot at reaching the quarter-finals.

This Wimbledon was the first time that two Polish men have advanced to the third round of a Grand Slam in the Open Era, with Lukasz Kubot also making the round of 32.

Janowicz said it was thanks to the pioneering efforts of women’s world number four Agnieszka Radwanska — last year’s beaten Wimbledon finalist — that Polish tennis is having a revival.

“Everything starts from Radwanska. Maybe we realised there’s a chance to make some good results in tennis in Poland,” he said.

“We didn’t have unbelievable facilities for practice. I remember when I was practicing during the winter under the balloon. It was minus 10 (Celsius) even inside.

“I remember the beginning was not easy.

“I’m happy there’s a lot of good players in Poland right now. The Radwanska sisters, me, Kubot. Michal Przysiezny lost Thursday in the second round. So I hope it’s going to be only better.”