Laura Siegemund ran across the court for three hours on the hottest tournament day of the Australian Open so far. She had sprinted from left to right, front to back – and all that back again and again, while the spectators sweated in the shadows. But when it was finally over, the 35-year-old German still had the strength to shout, which would have been clearly audible one or two seats further on if the audience hadn’t applauded so loudly.
Siegemund and the Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova deserved the positive response. It was an exciting first round match with ever new twists and turns, in which the German finally prevailed on Monday against Alexandrova, who was seeded 17th in the tournament, 6:2, 3:6, 7:6 (11:9) – and given the temperatures in the truest sense of the word: a test of strength.
That’s due to Siegemund, who spoke of the “crisp” climatic conditions and a “brutally high pace” that her opponent brought onto the pitch. Siegemund was also surprised by the court: “I haven’t had any training sessions on match courts so far. It was faster than anything I’ve played on in Australia.”
The physical factor
But Siegemund found a way to deal with all of this. She no longer expected so much from herself and saw herself more as a player with a focus on doubles in the future. “My game also depends on the physical aspect,” she explained. And it’s not like it used to be: “I’m not unfit, but I’ve got the years under my belt.”
A duo for Paris? Siegemund and Zverev were very successful at the United Cup. : Image: dpa
For the Australian Open, Siegemund has put herself in a condition in which she can also pose a threat to players from the top 20 in the world rankings. “I’m probably playing the best tennis of my life,” says the current world number 78. Siegemund has developed further technically and tactically. A big plus is her mental strength, she says. “For me, the factor is always physical. If I’m physically fit, I can really keep up with the best.”
And because that’s the case, the doubles specialist also wants to continue in singles. How long? She definitely wants to play this season. But she of all people also knows how quickly you can get injured. “I still really enjoy the individual,” says Siegemund, who had expected that at some point there would come a point where she no longer had the drive to torture herself in training. But it hasn’t come yet. “And there is still potential,” says Siegemund.
Separation from Svonareva
With her win, she reached the second round for the fifth time in her career, where she will now face Australian qualifier Storm Hunter. In round three there could be a duel with the German Tamara Korpatsch or her new doubles partner from the Czech Republic, Barbora Krejcikova. Either way, if she succeeds against Hunter, she will meet a familiar face.
At the end of November, the separation between Siegemund and her previous doubles partner Wera Swonareva, who had recently won the WTA doubles final together, became public. “Wera no longer plays a full schedule,” explained Siegemund after their first round success. “But I’m in the top ten, so I need a permanent partner with whom I can plan the season.”
Pirmin Clossé and David Lindenfeld Published/Updated: Recommendations: 6 David Lindenfeld, Melbourne Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 2 David Lindenfeld, Melbourne Published/Updated: Recommendations: 2
The Olympic Games in Paris are also included in these plans. Probably not individually. At least she doesn’t have too high hopes, said Siegemund. But she wants to play for Germany in doubles and mixed doubles. Possibly with Alexander Zverev like recently in the United Cup, which the German team won thanks to the well-coordinated double pairing of Zverev and Siegemund? “I can say: I’m ready,” said Siegemund in Melbourne: “I really want to play with him and I think we would be a dangerous couple.”
