AUGSBURG, August 28, 2026
Cezar Cretu is enjoying a strong run at the Schwaben Open by Great2Stay. After reaching his first ATP Challenger final in Chisinau earlier this season, the Romanian world No. 289 has continued his impressive form in Augsburg, where he defeated Marvin Moeller in a hard-fought rematch to reach the semifinals.
In our interview, Cretu talks about his mental approach, his work with former ATP player Victor Hanescu, his passion for music and his ambitions of reaching the Grand Slam main draw.
Tennis TourTalk: Cezar, first of all, congratulations on reaching the semifinals here in Augsburg. You had a tough match against Marvin Moeller today, just two weeks after losing to him in Hamburg. What could you take from that match in Hamburg?
Cezar Cretu: It was a tough match. I remember we played for three hours in Hamburg. It was a long, three-set match and Marvin played really well.
I had to challenge myself to come up with solutions, but in the end he managed to win the match. I still took some lessons from it, both tactically and mentally. My team and I had been working on that mental discipline, and fortunately I was able to put that work into practice very well today and play good tennis.
This is your first time in Augsburg, but you seem to feel very comfortable here. What do you like about the tournament and the venue?
As you said, I’m really enjoying the venue. The people here are very welcoming and friendly. I’m enjoying my time here – the players’ lounge, the courts, the atmosphere and also the people working behind the scenes.
They are an important part of the tournament, and I would like to thank them because they’re doing a really good job. They definitely make us feel very welcome here.
You’re currently enjoying a very good run of form. You also reached your first Challenger final at the Moldova Open in Chisinau after coming through qualifying. How would you describe your game and your playing style?
My game has a lot to do with my forehand. I like playing around with it, going inside-out. It’s nice that I can hit a heavy forehand, but I can also mix it up with drop shots and create some nice moments.
A lot of my tennis also has to do with the mental side of the game. That’s something my team and I are working on together, including Victor Hănescu and Dave DeHaan.
I’m of the opinion that, in order to play my best tennis, I need to do a lot of mental work. That’s what I’m doing and what I’m working towards. I’m happy that I’m managing to do that better and better every day.
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
You seem very calm on court and you take your time between points. You also received two time violations today. Is that part of the mental work you’re doing?
Yes, of course. That’s also something I’m working on.
I’m trying to get my mind in order, to be able to start every new point from the beginning and reset without thinking about what happened in the past. I just want to be in the present.
That’s why sometimes I need a little more time than usual, so it happens. That’s basically the reason.
It’s totally focused on myself, not on my opponent. When I’m on court, I’m just trying to play my best tennis, do the work and come into the next point with my mind as empty as possible.
You were born in Iași and are now based in Bucharest, where you work with Victor Hanescu. Can you tell us a little bit about your training setup?
The Victor Hanescu Academy is in Bucharest, and I’m lucky enough to have been working with him for six years already.
The project we’re working on is a really nice one and something very close to my heart. I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to learn from him because he has a lot of experience from his time on the ATP Tour.
He’s trying to transfer that experience into my game, and I’m grateful to have him by my side.
How did you get into tennis in the first place?
When I was five years old, my parents decided that I could try some sports. It wasn’t something that was really planned. I just tried a few different sports.
But I fell in love with tennis the first time I went there, and I’ve been playing ever since. I remember it was really, really fun for me – and it still is.
Even as a kid, I really enjoyed being a tennis player. Those were very nice times.
What do you enjoy doing away from tennis? Do you follow other sports?
Yes, of course. I follow sports because I’m a sportsman. I watch football, volleyball and things like that.
But recently I also started playing the guitar. That’s something not many people know about, but I really enjoy doing it in my free time.
I actually brought a guitar with me here – a small one, just a practice guitar. At home I have an electric guitar, so I’m trying to learn a few things.
I enjoy listening to music, especially blues and rock.
And, of course, I have to admit that a lot of my time away from the court is also spent making sure that I’m in the right mental place. That’s especially important during tournaments, but also when I’m at home.
There’s a lot of mental work to do during the day and I have to make sure that I stay on the right track. But it’s an enjoyable process.
Do you have a favourite football club or a particular team that you support?
Not really. I enjoy watching football just for the fun of it, especially when the Champions League is on.
But I appreciate all sportsmen and athletes. They are really inspirational to me, so I try to take the best from them.
You spend a lot of time travelling on the tour. Do you also get the chance to explore the cities you visit and experience different cultures?
Yes, that’s a big part of our lives because we travel a lot – around 30 weeks out of 52 in a year.
So it’s a lot. I try to make sure that I also get some time off and disconnect.
For example, here in Augsburg, I went jogging on the first day, so I got to run around the city and explore it a little bit.
And of course, there are different cultures and different foods. It’s an enjoyable lifestyle. It’s a nice thing to do, and if you’re able to look at the positives, there are a lot of things to be happy about.
Finally, what are your goals for the rest of the season and beyond?
I know everybody focuses on goals. Ultimately, of course, all the work I do is about achieving bigger goals.
But what is most important for me is being able to do the things that my team and I have worked out together – the things we’ve decided I need to do. That includes my on-court tactics, the mental work away from the court, physical training and recovery.
All of that is ultimately aimed at going as high as possible.
The first step would be reaching Grand Slam qualifying, of course, and taking it step by step. One day, I dream of being on the big stages, playing in Grand Slam main draws and competing alongside the best players in the world.
And, of course, enjoying the sport and enjoying the big tournaments.
Cezar, thanks a lot and good luck for the semifinals.
Thank you.
Interview: Florian Heer
