Laura Siegemund after Miami title: "My goal is to get back into the top 100"
Laura Siegemund has been working regularly for Porsche Team Germany since 2017. After a long injury break, the 34-year-old is now back and is taking part in the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) in Kazakhstan. She spoke to the German Tennis Association about her performance at the Miami Open, the condition of her knee and old habits...
by PM / DTB
last edit: Apr 04, 2022, 01:35 pm
You won the doubles title with Vera Zvonareva at the Miami Open. How was the tournament for you?
I'm super happy with how well we played. The level increased from match to match. It's amazing how quickly we're back at the highest level and playing up front after I've been injured for so long. We had already won Lyon together at the beginning of March, but our last match together before that was in July 2021 at Wimbledon. Of course I'm not satisfied with my individual. It was a very windy day and I had an opponent who has a lot of confidence at the moment. Nevertheless, of course I expect more from myself. It's not easy to get back to the top level after such a long time and I think I just need some more good matches and some confidence.
Last year you injured yourself at the Miami Open. The knee surgery came at the beginning of August and you had to take a break for several months. Is everything okay now?
Exactly, from March 2021 I had permanent problems with my knee. We tried for a long time to solve this without surgery. That's how I played throughout the season, but I had to take breaks again and again until the Olympic Games. I really wanted to experience that. But after that it was no longer possible and I had to take the step of an operation. This was followed by a six-month rehab. Of course, my knee isn't what it used to be. I have to do a lot of regular exercises, it stays work in progress. But I'm satisfied - it adapts well to the match situation again and gets better with every tournament. I'm happy that I can play again at all and then achieve such a sensational success at this level, I can be proud of that.
You played doubles very well in Miami. Would you rather compete in singles or doubles at the Billie Jean King Cup (BJKC)?
I'm open to all options. Basically, I still see myself as a singles and doubles player and my goal is to be in the top 100 again in singles. I managed to do that quickly in doubles. And that I can play doubles at world-class level, I showed it again here in Miami at the latest.
The BJKC in Kazakhstan is on sand. How will you make the transition?
I really like playing on clay, it's my favorite surface. I don't usually find the transition difficult. But of course you still need a little time. As for the knee: Sand is rather good for the joints. After insisting on hard court in Miami, I'm certainly well prepared for the clay court season in that respect.
What do you associate with the BJKC?
This is one of the few team competitions we have. For me it is connected with team spirit, the feeling of playing for one's own nation. With the German colors on the chest, it's just something different. You have a different responsibility because you're not just playing for yourself, you're playing for something bigger. I associate that with the Fed Cup – or the Billie Jean King Cup.
Not a rare slip of the tongue: The Fed Cup no longer exists - since 2020 it has been called the Billie Jean King Cup. Have you gotten used to the new name yet?
(laughs) No, not at all. Without wanting to underestimate Billie Jean King - for me she is an absolute role model and an inspiring personality. But the name is just awkward.
How well do you know each other in the team?
Some of us have known each other forever – the old hands have been for almost 25 years. Of course you have a relationship with each other. I had a few points of contact at tournaments with the younger ones, Jule Niemeier and Nastasja Schunk. I played against Jule once, I met Nastasja in Miami. But I don't know her that well yet.
Is there anything you're particularly looking forward to in Kazakhstan?
Being part of the team: the team feeling and the atmosphere in a team, training together and preparing for a common task and then hopefully performing well when it counts - these are things I look forward to!