Barbara Rittner on Angelique Kerber's start at the US Open: "Shows how much the fire is still burning"
Barbara Rittner is happy about Angelique Kerber's comeback at the US Open - but she is not one of the title favorites.
by SID
last edit:
Aug 28, 2020, 07:32 am

Germany's women's tennis boss Barbara Rittner is looking forward to the comeback of top player Angelique Kerber at the US Open. "That shows once again how much the fire is still burning in her," said the Eurosport expert on Thursday in an online press round and stated: "She has no pressure at all. I trust her to do a lot, she is a lucky bag . "
After a long period of reflection, Kerber decided to take part in the Grand Slam tournament that began on Monday (until September 13) in New York, her last match on the tour so far was the round of 16 at the Australian Open at the end of January. Then the 32-year-old had to sit out because of a thigh injury before the corona pandemic caused the tennis tour to take a break of around five months.
Rittner therefore sees the comeback in New York as tricky. "She is experienced enough, but she has never had this situation before," said the 47-year-old: "She will be playing at the US Open and for the first time in her career has the situation without an audience. And then too in a special place where she has already experienced this extreme euphoria. "
Osaka as the top favorite
Kerber won the title in New York in 2016 and climbed to number one in the world rankings. Rittner does not want to overestimate the fact that the Kiel woman is now working again with her old successful trainer Torben Beltz, who was at her side in the triumph in Flushing Meadows four years ago: "You can't judge the two by what they have already achieved."
Rittner does not count the three-time Grand Slam winner Kerber among the favorites. "Naomi Osaka is a top favorite, even ahead of Serena Williams, because I think she is physically stronger," said Rittner. The Japanese Osaka had triumphed in New York in 2018. US superstar Williams is trying in Flushing Meadows to win her 24th Grand Slam title and to draw level with record holder Margaret Court.