French Open 2022: Andrea Petkovic still feels the energy
At 34, Andrea Petkovic can still keep up on the big stage. With smart training, she can withstand the strain.
by SID
last edit: May 23, 2022, 08:39 pm
Andrea Petkovic put her bag aside, sat down on a white imitation leather chair and, after her first-round success at the French Open, chatted in a good mood about her recipe for success as a professional. "As you get older, your energy sometimes goes down, sometimes up," said the 34-year-old: "The art is to use your energy and train smarter."
Petkovic seems to have mastered this art quite well. The all-time favorite from Darmstadt, who reached the semi-finals in 2014, made a strong showing in her 6-4, 6-2 opening win against France's Oceane Dodin. National coach Barbara Rittner got into raptures.
"It was a masterpiece. I've rarely seen her play tennis so well in the first round of a Grand Slam," said Rittner on the Eurosport microphone. And Petkovic said he's feeling pretty good at the moment: "Hopefully it stays that way."
Petkovic 'accidentally won' tournament
Petkovic is still in the middle of the business, although her original plan did not include any professional matches for her in 2022. "It's just difficult to stop when you feel that you're still playing," said the third-oldest player in the main draw in Paris: "It's a lot more fun because you don't have that pressure anymore."
Last year was supposed to be her last season as a professional player. "But then I accidentally won a tournament and was back in 60th place," said Petkovic, who has long been active in other areas, including as a presenter on ZDF. But that's on the back burner at the moment, she'll climb up the rankings with her win near the Eiffel Tower, close to 50th place.
Petkovic was asked on Monday whether it was not an option to continue planning until the 2024 Olympics in Paris. "They'd have to figure out some botox for the muscles by then," was her reply.
Here the individual tableau in Roland Garros
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