Kingston’s Brydan Klein is hoping to peak for the Wimbledon Championships after crashing out of the French Open qualifiers in the first round last week.
The 26-year-old returned to competitive action last Tuesday after a three-month injury spell.
However, things did not go well as he suffered a straight sets 6-3, 6-3 defeat by Ukraine’s world number 96 Sergiy Stakhovsky at Roland Garros.
Klein, the current British number six, went into the famous red clay court grand slam tournament with hardly any match practise admitted he found it pretty tough going.
And he is hoping for much better later in the summer.
“I didn’t really feel comfortable on court,” he said.
“He (Stakhovsky) was in form so he was dictating the match.
“I was just trying to hang in there, but it was just a matter of time before he was going to get the upper edge on the sets, he’s much experience and I haven’t played much at all.
“I only just recovered. I didn’t play any lead up tournaments so it was tough finding my feet to start off after not playing for so long against a tough opponent. If I had an easier draw I may have worked my way into the match or even the tournament.”
Australian-born Klein will now head back to his training base at National Tennis Centre, Roehampton before he begins his pre-Wimbledon campaign at AEGON Manchester Open on Sunday.
And Klein, who has a current ATP world ranking of 211, has his sights firmly set on returning to Wimbledon, where he was beaten in the first round last year by experienced Italian Andreas Seppi.
“The goal is to try to get in as much matches as possible because I haven’t played any matches this year,” he added. “So when it comes to Wimbledon time I will be playing my best tennis. That’s the plan.”
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