Hamburg (AP) – Noma Noha Akugue only realized her success at the tennis tournament in Hamburg in the evening in the hotel. “It was only then that I realized what I had achieved,” said the 19-year-old on Sunday. Born in Reinbeker, she was “sad” about the defeat in the final against Arantxa Rus from the Netherlands, but the joy about the sensational entry into the final came after a visit to the Hamburger Dom festival, including a roller coaster ride.
“But then I started imagining what would really have happened if I had won the tournament. There would have been more attention,” she explained. Ex-professional Andrea Petkovic also sees the lost final positively. “I’m maybe very glad that it wasn’t enough for the big hit,” said the 35-year-old. “It’s important that she has time to develop slowly so that she becomes an even better player than she is now.”
Before the Hamburg tournament, Noha Akugue had not yet played a match in a main draw of a WTA event. In the Hanseatic city she then surprisingly made it into the final. “She has taken a huge step in development. The potential has been evident in training for years. Now she has also gotten it together in the matches,” explained Petkovic.
In the new world rankings, Noha Akugue, who is still ranked 207, will make a leap into the top 150. The career of the talent should really pick up momentum after the coup in Hamburg. “I’m definitely hungry,” she said. At the US Open, which begins in about a month, she will compete in the qualification.
Maybe a new coach will be found by then. Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh, who was already training Angelique Kerber, ended the collaboration a few weeks ago because he wants to concentrate on top Austrian player Dominic Thiem. “Difficult,” Noha Akugue called the situation. In Hamburg she was coached by national coach Barbara Rittner and Petkovic. “We’ll definitely keep in touch a lot,” said the newcomer.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230730-99-610540/3
2023-07-30 13:42:05
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