“It doesn't matter, it's quiet in the end” - Laura Siegemund has a hard time without a spectator
For a short time there were concerns that the thing could now run away very quickly, Ashleigh Barty had simply played Laura Siegemund against the wall in her 6-0, 7-5 victory at the beginning . But Siegemund did not give up, the second round was at eye level. And it didn't necessarily have to be lost.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Apr 22, 2021, 10:55 am
"It's extremely difficult, she comes out, is very solid and aggressive at the same time," Siegemund praised her opponent. Both Barty and Siegemund are known for their variable play, Barty, the first in the world rankings, but in the end they have the advantages of the serve and the extra power. "When the service and return phases were over, I was in a good position," said Siegemund, explaining the tighter round two - which was annoyingly lost.
Also because Siegemund lacked "her" fans, especially in Stuttgart. Here she was worn to victory in this heartbeat final against Kiki Mladenovic in 2017 , against Barty it was: quiet.
A problem for an emotional player like Siegemund. It is difficult to realize when it becomes important, explained Siegemund, "normally you can feel it." Now you have the feeling that it doesn't matter, “but of course it isn't. I had to keep up the energy and the adrenaline myself, I couldn't do that. "
Siegemund: "It doesn't matter if it's the best ball of my life or a stupid mistake"
It was particularly annoying how quickly the game ran away in the end, especially since the 33-year-old was in a good position at the match point against herself and could have built up the point after a strong first serve with the forehand. “They are typical Lulli points like the match point: a good serve and then with eight million a board one meter from the field. That's exactly the problem right now: not having that tension that you just play a solid ball. Because the water is up to your neck, but it doesn't feel like it, ”explained Siegemund. "It doesn't matter whether I play the best ball of my life or make a stupid mistake: it is quiet in the end."
You have to be able to do that well in the current situation, so Siegemund self-critically, she did not succeed.
Siegemund: "Your knees are no longer fresh"
“I should take something positive with me,” says Siegemund. “But I'm not the best at taking positive things out of a defeat.” She had reason to do so, especially because she came back from the tournament in Miami with knee pain, and three weeks ago there was talk of a possible operation. That is no longer an issue, "just a strong irritation", according to the world ranking 58th, and it is no wonder after her complicated cruciate ligament tear four years ago. "The knee is not completely fresh as a dew", as her doctor put it. What exactly you do with MRI images is such a thing anyway, since she has been involved in competitive sports since she was a teenager, you can see a lot on them. You now hope to be able to further stabilize the knee problem.
Now it is a matter of "bringing your fitness and footwork up to date again in a short time" for the sand. And, according to Siegemund, with the positive outlook: Training within the tournaments is now on the agenda. "But the matches also make you fit."