Grand Slam year inspires superwoman Jule Niemeier: "Can be very dangerous"
Despite being eliminated in the round of 16 of the US Open, Jule Niemeier took home an important lesson: the German hopeful can keep up with the best in the world.
by SID/red.
last edit: Sep 07, 2022, 10:29 am
When her amazing first Grand Slam year had just come to an end, Jule Niemeier felt even more spurred on. "Now it's time to fly back, rest for a few days and then train again," said the 23-year-old hope of German women's tennis in New York, looking determined.
The dream of the next quarterfinals on the biggest stage was not meant to be, but the insights from her 6:2, 4:6, 0:6 defeat against world number one Iga Swiatek and her three successes at the US Open could not have been more valuable can fail. With her power, her variability and her mental stability, Niemeier can keep up with the best players in the world - and is ready to invest the necessary sweat for the next step.
Rittner repeatedly emphasizes potential
"If I can keep that constant over the next few months and years, I can become very dangerous on the tour and beat a lot of good players," said Niemeier. There is "simply a lot of potential" that she wants to "exploit". Their significantly improved ranking in the top 75 in the world will help with that. In the future, the soon-to-be German number one should be in the main draw for all majors.
National coach Barbara Rittner has long emphasized the potential of the 1.78 meter tall athlete with the hard serve. Niemeier has "all the weapons of a top player," said Rittner. In Paris, when she was narrowly defeated in her major debut, she already hinted at this. Since reaching the quarterfinals in Wimbledon, Niemeier seems to know how to use these weapons consistently.
Role model for Schunk, Lys & Co.
This is extremely important news for German women's tennis in a phase of upheaval. Three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber is on maternity leave. Andrea Petkovic announced the end of her career after her first-round defeat in New York, while Julia Görges stopped playing a long time ago. So new faces are needed, and Niemeier is one of them. Down to earth and clear off the field, aggressive and fearless as soon as she picks up the bat.
With her development, the Dortmund native is a role model for other talents such as Nastasja Schunk, who has already celebrated her Grand Slam debut in Paris, or Eva Lys, who only failed at the final qualifying hurdle in New York. Persistent work pays off.
At Niemeier, the jigsaw puzzle is also being put together more and more because of their professionalized environment. Working with trainer Christopher Kas is bearing fruit, she now also has a personal physiotherapist and athletic trainer in Florian Nowy. "I think we just worked consistently well as a team. Really in every single session," said Niemeier, who spent many hours in the gym to improve her match fitness.
With the success of her first Grand Slam year behind her, she feels the great motivation to build on it. And getting closer and closer to the top of the world.
Here the single tableau from New York.
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