The expectations of the German women were not high before the Australian Open 2024. Unfortunately there were no upward swings.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edited: January 20, 2024, 5:04 p.m
Even Angelique Kerber couldn’t save the German balance sheet
At the beginning of the season, many of the German fan base’s hopes rested on Angelique Kerber. But what a tough road the three-time Grand Slam queen faces on her comeback after a maternity break was already apparent from the first few meters on the other side of the world. Just getting back into the regions of the world’s top elite is likely to be an extremely difficult undertaking for the 35-year-old from Kiel – especially in view of the dynamism and energy that representatives of the next generation and the generation after that bring to the Center Court. Nevertheless, Kerber remains the most promising player for the near and medium-term future.
Schüttler urges patience
When Kerber was on maternity leave and her long-time colleagues Andrea Petkovic and Julia Görges retired, the enormous gap behind the “Golden Generation” became really visible – also because other hopefuls like Carina Witthöft or Annika Beck had had enough of the stress in the tough touring business or pursuing new career and life goals. However, the mediocrity that occurred among the remaining protagonists also irritated DTB President Dietloff von Arnim. You have to ask yourself “what went wrong” if you haven’t had anything to show for years. With younger players, she often misses the attitude that distinguished Kerber, Görges and Co.: “They were not above leaving their comfort zone. They really wanted to improve every day. Somehow too much is being taken from the younger people today.”
Rittner, but also national coach Rainer Schüttler, also point out social differences: “It is much more difficult here to combine competitive sport with the desired school education than elsewhere, for example in Eastern Europe,” says Schüttler, the Melbourne finalist of the year 2003, “ When our young players really get going, their competitors have already hit a few hundred thousand more balls.” It’s difficult to “catch up,” said Schüttler: “But you have to be more patient and see the different time horizon in our careers. “
2024-01-20 18:30:00
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