Tennis: Venus' star on the rise

Michael Venus. Photo / Getty Images.

Michael Venus has spent the last seven years being misunderstood.

The New Zealand No1 and local hope at next week's Heineken Open has been based in the United States since the age of 15.

The 23-year-old now sounds more Kentucky than Kiwi, with a distinct twang to his accent which he claims was developed out of necessity.

"I got sick of repeating myself," he says of his school days there, "and the New Zealand accent seems to be particularly mystifying."

He likes to think he also picked up the famed American confidence and winning mentality.

"They love results, obviously, but always try to find the positive side of things, which certainly helps with your mood when you have a bad result."

After starring at Louisiana State University, Venus made a good fist of his first full year on the ATP tour. He now sits at 329 in the world. At the start of last year, he was ranked 586 and in July 2009, was at 1700.

He has beaten several top-200 players and scalps last year included former top-20 player Vince Spadea. But his highlight of 2010 was playing Davis Cup against Pakistan and Thailand in front of a home crowd.

He also won a Futures title in California but the greatest achievement was reaching a Challenger final, becoming the first Kiwi in more than 10 years to do so.

Venus had to go through qualifying just to make the main draw, all in the unlikely setting of Uzbekistan.

"It was a bit of an eye opener," he says.

"It was amazing to see how some of them lived, how hard they worked for so little and how little they had. It gives you a new perspective."

Unusually for his generation, Venus found the lack of internet access and phone network a refreshing change.

"You can spend a lot of time on Facebook but you don't really do anything," he says.

"You soon realise it's time wasted."

He didn't waste any in Kazakhstan, where his victims included Miloslav Mecir jnr, son of the Slovak tennis legend who won the Auckland event in 1987.

He describes the capital Astana as a "brand new city in the middle of nowhere" and loved the experience of being there, although he was happy to be with the New Zealand contingent of Marcel Vos and Rubin Statham rather than a group of Americans, given the ongoing Borat-induced ill feeling.

The 1.9m tall Venus is noted for his big serve and aggressive play.

"I always like to dictate the point rather than be defensive," he says. "If I feel the ball is there to be hit, I will go for it.

"Obviously [next week] these guys are going to be that little bit better at everything but it is up to me to step up. I know what to expect and I will have to play well.

"It is about having the right mindset and being ready to go as soon as I step on the court."

Hardcourt is his preferred surface, but he is comfortable on clay, having played a lot of college matches on the red dust.

He won the USA 18s title on clay in 2005, which gave him a wildcard entry into his only previous full ATP Tour event. He lost in the first round.

Venus represented the US in international university events and was once listed as an American on the ATP website but says there are no doubts to where his allegiances lie.

"I'm much more of a Kiwi than an American and there is a lot more opportunity for me here."

He attended high school in Florida, then went to the University of Texas and Louisiana State. Matches there would regularly draw crowds of 300-400 and Venus made several All-American selections.

The college system provides a good tennis grounding but few manage the transition to the professional ranks, as they give up four or five years' head start to those on the circuit from a young age. Ken Skupski, a team-mate at Louisiana, is ranked 77 in doubles and reigning Heineken Open champion John Isner was a star at the University of Georgia, while South African Kevin Anderson (61) is also a college product.

"Personally, I feel like I can play with these guys [at ATP level]," Venus says, "and it's up to me to prove it.

"I have kept moving up, which is a good sign, and you need to believe. It will be a good test at the Heineken Open."

He admits to being a hothead in the past and defaulted a match at the 2006 national residential championships after a 15-minute argument with his opponent.

"I definitely express myself on the court. I wasn't the most well-behaved kid growing up but now I try to channel that energy into something positive instead of letting it affect your performance."

If all goes to plan, Venus hopes to be in the world's top 150 by the end of this year, a goal his coach says is realistic.

"He had a successful college career and that has helped him mature," says New Zealand Davis Cup captain Vos.

"It takes three to four years to understand what it takes on the circuit and Michael has been doing it for 18 months. He could be within the top 150 in the next 12 months."

Michael Venus:

Born: North Shore, 1987.

Ranked: 329.

Career high: 302 (November 2010).

Career prizemoney: US$45,675.

Yearbook quote: "Every day, give everything you've got because anything less is lost forever."