Rittner believes in Jule Niemeier: "The puzzle is put together"
National tennis coach Barbara Rittner sees the Wimbledon surprise Jule Niemeier (WTA No. 97) shortly before breaking through to the top of the world.
by SID
last edit: Jun 30, 2022, 09:28 am
"With Jule, the puzzle was now further put together. She has a very professional team around her and will certainly benefit from the experience she is currently gaining," said Rittner of the Sport Information Service (SID).
On Wednesday, Niemeier (22) knocked out the second seed, Anett Kontaveit from Estonia, 6-4, 6-0. The world number 97 meets on Friday. from Dortmund in the third round to the Ukrainian Lesia Zurenko. Victory against a top player like Kontaveit on a stage as big as Wimbledon will give Niemeier another boost, said Rittner.
The former junior winner at the All England Club feels confirmed in her opinion that talent will follow the "golden generation" around three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber, who is also in the third round. Rittner is all the more grateful "for every month" that Kerber, Andrea Petkovic and also the mother of two, Tatjana Maria (all 34), "still play".
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The old guard give "the youngsters time to develop" and can pass on the experience in training or in doubles. Niemeier plays at Wimbledon together with Petkovic. "Petko in particular is such a positive person, but Angie is also opening up more and more. She gave a great speech at the Fed Cup in Kazakhstan," said Rittner.
But she also knows that setbacks can follow. Niemeier must "above all stay healthy. At the moment she is on the verge of making it to the top." 18-year-old Nastasja Schunk (Ludwigshafen) also made it into the main draw at Wimbledon.