Wimbledon 2021: Angelique Kerber - "Barty got the best out of me"
Angelique Kerber can look back with satisfaction on the Wimbledon tournament in 2021 despite being eliminated in the semifinals against Ashleigh Barty. The German is back at the top of the world.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit:
Jul 08, 2021, 06:40 pm
When Angelique Kerber left Center Court at Wimbledon on Thursday afternoon, she did not leave this theater of dreams with sagging shoulders. Kerber marched upright from the tennis green, she waved to the audience with thunderous applause, she even smiled all over her face. Even as the loser in the semi-final against Ashleigh Barty, the 33-year-old could and wanted to feel like the winner, as a woman who had regained a new sporty attitude towards life for a week and a half.
The Kiel woman lost 3: 6 and 6: 7 to the number one in the world, and she was denied access to a second cup trophy - and yet Wimbledon 21 was a win, and the whole lawn season of this year. “It was an emotional moment after the match, the standing ovations from the audience. And my pride in having really shot something in the last three weeks, "said Kerber later," I'm just back there, at the forefront. And I'm grateful that I made this trip again. "It took one of the best matches of her career to win against Kerber, said Barty," she got the best out of me. "
Kerber beats super talent Gauff
In fact, Kerber did not have to grieve or be ashamed of being inferior to the most natural and talented player in women's tennis. Even without a final highlight, good memories for the Northern Lights will be associated with this Wimbledon edition in retrospect - she won the top-class match of the tournament in the second round against the Spaniard Sarah Sorribes, she beat America's super talent Coco Gauff and the dangerous Czech Karolina Muchova sovereign in the second week of the tournament. "She has reported back with world class tennis at the top of the world," said TV expert Chris Evert, who used to be the defining figure in women's tennis. The title run at the "home tournament" in Bad Homburg was one of them, it was the first tournament win since the final success in 2018 against Serena Williams on Church Road.
skywimbledon
Kerber started the game against Barty, the dominant player in the tour business, mixed - and she ended the duel shaky. In between there was a game that was played at eye level, in which only small nuances were decisive. The German front woman ran after a 3-0 deficit early on and couldn't make up for the deficit in the first act of the two-parter. But whoever had expected a march through by the Australian who won the junior finals ten years ago was mistaken. Kerber resolutely seized the direction in the second movement, her balls suddenly had more power and precision - and with a 5-2 lead by the lawn queen in 2018 everything looked like an extension and even more moments of tension.
Barty praises Kerber
But two blatant phases of weakness cost Kerber the chance to play the title match at the tournament of tournaments a second time. In Barty's chase from 2: 5 to 5: 5, Kerber once lost eleven points in a row. And after Kerber's 6: 5 lead, Barty went back ten points - four to equalize 6: 6 and then the first six points in the tie-break. Kerber was able to fend off three match balls undaunted, but then a promising backhand ball flew into the net just under the edge - and the wondrous journey in London SW19 was over.
After the best tennis weeks in the last 30 months, Kerber will move back to the top 20 in the world rankings. The season could still be exciting - with her and for her. The next highlight will soon be waiting, the Olympic Games of the season. Kerber won the silver medal in Rio in 2016, and in Tokyo she also speculates on precious metal, incidentally also in a mixed with Alexander Zverev. However, Kerber said in a press conference after the semifinals, "we now have to see how things go on as a team." For finalist Barty one thing is clear: "Angie is in great shape." I would say. It is good for something special everywhere again ”.
Here the single tableau in Wimbledon
wimmap