The return from Ena Shibahara (24) sails out, Sabine Lisicki (32) remains incredulous for seconds behind the baseline: 508 days after her bad cruciate ligament tear, the Berliner was back on the field for the first time at a WTA tournament. And won the qualifying round in Bonita Springs (Florida) 6:3, 6:4.
Sabine Lisicki reached the Wimbledon final in 2013, was ranked 12th in the world and has won six tournaments so far. But the success in qualifying at the small W100 tournament in Bonita Springs is probably the biggest win of her career.
Sabine Lisicki is back
She smiled almost incredulously, fighting back a few tears as she sat in her chair after the match. “I want it that way” by the Backstreet Boys played over the stadium speakers. And that’s how she wanted it…
In November 2020 the serious injury at the tournament in Linz. 508 days of agonizing rehab, with mini steps forward. And also some setbacks.
“For me it was already a success just to be on the pitch and play a full match,” Lisicki told BILD overjoyed. “And that after such a serious knee operation, where everything that could be broken was broken.”
Foto: picture alliance / dpa
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/mitten-nine-years-her-sabine-lisicki-after-the-lost-wimbledon-finale-2013-b35f842cf7a9450bbfbe97d4d6cae571-79960242/Bild/ 3.image.jpg”/> Nine years ago now: Sabine Lisicki after losing the Wimbledon final in 2013Foto: picture alliance / dpa
In the past year and a half she never gave up – even though many had already lost faith in her. That was just an extra incentive for her. She wanted to show everyone, fought like a lion every day, spent a lot of time at Nick Bollettieri’s (90) IMG Academy in Bradenton (Florida).
Fought for this very moment in Bonita Springs. “To win this match after 18 months of hard work and a rollercoaster ride is just unbelievably nice,” Lisicki said afterwards.
It continues on Tuesday. The top seeded Romanian Gabriela Lee is waiting in the qualifying final. Lisicki also wants to win the match. But she has already won the greatest victory…
