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Andrea Petkovic enthusiastic about Darja Kassatkina’s coming out

Andrea Petkovic was enthusiastic about the coming out of the homosexual Russian tennis player Darja Kassatkina. “I thought it was incredibly brave, incredibly cool. Also this video, how she says it to herself like it’s the most normal thing in the world, as it should be. But that’s not it when you’re Russian,” said the 34-year-old on Tuesday at the WTA tournament in Hamburg. “I saw it, I celebrated it and I will continue to celebrate it.”

Kassatkina had previously made her homosexuality public. In a video interview with blogger Vitya Kravchenko published on Monday, she also criticized the fact that there were a number of “forbidden topics” in Russia. “For young people who face problems in public, it is very important if athletes or other well-known figures talk about it,” Kassatkina said. She has a life partner, she confirmed when asked.

Kassatkina criticized that there are a lot of topics in Russia that shouldn’t be talked about. Homosexuality is not even the most important thing. There was movement towards more openness at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but this process has stopped. “The road has been blocked. Road works,” Kassatkina said wryly.

Kassatkina, number twelve in the world rankings, is currently the best-placed Russian. The 25-year-old has won four titles on the WTA Tour in her career so far. At the clay court tournament in Hamburg, she was eliminated in the first round.

Petkovic “with cracking joints”

Petkovic defeated Misaki Doi of Japan 6-4, 6-3 in the round of 16 on Tuesday. This makes her the only one of a total of eleven German professionals who started in the tournament. On Tuesday evening, Daniel Altmaier was eliminated as the last remaining German player in the men’s competition with a 6:2, 4:6, 2:6 against Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo. Before that, the 22-year-old Nicola Kuhn from Ludwigshafen had to beat the world number six Carlos Alcaraz from Spain after 2:26 hours of play 6: 3, 1: 6, 6: 7 (3: 7) after a highly courageous performance with great fighting spirit in sweltering heat. give up.


Has fought for a long time: Nicola Kuhn
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Image: dpa

For women, Jule Niemeier was eliminated 4:6, 6:0, 4:6 against Joanne Züger from Switzerland and Sabine Lisicki 4:6, 2:6 against Alexandra Krunic from Serbia in the first round of the clay court tournament. “I hope to be back soon. I’ll keep fighting,” said the 32-year-old Lisicki after her third WTA tournament since her comeback after a long injury break.

Petkovic regretted her situation as the only remaining German tennis player at the clay court tournament in Hamburg. “It’s sad for me. I always think it’s good when the pressure is spread over everyone’s shoulders when the next generation slowly takes over the helm,” said the 34-year-old. “But apparently the old iron still has to hold up the flag and we’re doing it with cracking joints.”

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