Niclas Nohr, Danish mixed doubles player, has partnered with Sara Thygesen, who also plays women’s doubles with Maiken Fruergarrd, throughout the last years.
At the moment, Nohr and Thygesen are ranked as number 45 on the world ranking and are the second best Danish mixed doubles pair after Alexandra Bøje and Mathias Christiansen. Describing the situation, Nohr says.
- The situation is of course difficult, as we are between being in the big tournaments and being right outside. It is frustrating. But we also know that the reason is that we have not played enough tournaments, so we are more hopeful about that.
- We hoped to be able to play a lot after Sara was back from her injury, but then the Coronavirus came and stopped everything. The good thing is that Sara has more time to recover and be even more ready when the tournaments start again.
Nohr and Thygesen have been through a long rough period with a lot of injuries but are now on their way back. They have had injuries at the same time but also at different times. Describing the thoughts that can go through a players head when dealing with this, Nohr says.
- That is a part of being a double pair. You are very dependent of the other. Unfortunately, the injuries have been at annoying times when we had to defend points and therefore slipped down the ranking as we could not enter the tournaments we had planned. But we feel we get more aware about what to do and pay attention.
Read: Isabel Herttrich: The last months have been crazy
The ambitions
Spain Masters and Orleans Masters 2018 were the last tournaments that Nohr and Thygesen won. Since then, injuries have made it hard for the pair to reach their top level. But despite injuries, Nohr and Thygesen still have ambitions and goals they want to reach.
- We dreamt about going to the Olympics, but because of Sara’s injuries, it has not been realistic. But we really want to get back in the big tournaments. Right now, we are taking it slow after the corona virus. Everything needs to fall into place on the calendar, so we can find out where the tournaments are and what is being held when. But, we will climb the ranking again.
Talking about ambitions, Nohr also tells us what his personal ambitions for his career are.
- I really want to show that I am still one of Europe’s best mixed doubles players. I have claimed a silver medal at the European Championships once and won European Super 300 and 100 tournaments. And I want to do that again. If I can do that, then I also know I can play along with the Asian players, and that is what I think is the coolest. But I also know that I do not get any younger and the Asians come with more and more players, so you soon have to take the last step.
We have earlier seen Nohr playing men’s doubles with Kasper Antonsen, but in the last years he has been focusing fully on mixed doubles. Commenting on if men’s doubles is something that has been on his mind, he says.
- Not really, the federation sees me as a mixed player. And this year where the Olympic qualification has been, it has been the focus. But I like to play men’s doubles, so should I play the men’s doubles again, it should be with a partner where I could come as far as in mixed. Time will show. Right now, I do not think about it.