Wimbledon 2021: Torben Beltz - indispensable companion of Angelique Kerber
With Torben Beltz at her side, Angelique Kerber won the Australian Open and the US Open in 2016. Now the duo could win the Wimbledon title together for the first time.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jul 07, 2021, 09:33 pm
A few years ago, Torben Beltz was an unfamiliar sight. It was at the gala dinner on the eve of the Tennis World Cup in Singapore when the giant from the far north, Angelique Kerber's long-term coach, appeared in a suit and tie. Beltz smiled a little pained and immediately chased away some professional photographers who wanted to take a picture of him in elegant dress. "Just no pictures," ordered Beltz, "otherwise things will go up and down the Internet."
Beltz is not a man who can enjoy the chic world of the traveling circus, the beautiful glow, all the cinnabar that accompanies the professional tour of women's tennis. The world of the two-meter man literally lies on the playgrounds, whether as an instructor in practice or as an attentive observer at matches, as a concentrated supporter of his boss. At Wimbledon, too, you can just see the tall guy again in his parade role - as the most important companion at Kerber's side, as well as someone who always brightens the working atmosphere in a cooperative mood. "He's the most positive person I know," says Kerber, whose miraculous renaissance has temporarily earned him a semifinal place in the theater of tennis dreams. On Thursday, Kerber will face what is probably the most difficult task of all, the duel with the current world rankings Ashleigh Barty from Australia. “It's going to be tough. But it will also be tough for my opponent, "says Kerber," I just feel ready for anything in this tournament. "
Beltz already knew Kerber from his youth
Which is also the merit of the 44-year-old Beltz, with whom Kerber has an almost lifelong, very close relationship in tennis. Coach Beltz still knows Kerber from childhood and youth, he has already accompanied her to Grand Slam youth tournaments. “Nobody knows better what makes me tick,” says Kerber about the good mood promoter who almost never loses his smile and his fundamentally optimistic attitude. The professional cooperation has also turned into a friendly relationship, after all, you have to get along well, “when you spend so much time,” says Kerber. She had called the father of two back to her team once again when she slipped into a crisis in the middle of last year. At that time, the 33-year-old looked a bit lost and unmotivated in the turmoil of the corona pandemic, which paralyzed and interrupted gaming. Alliances with today's Fed Cup coach Rainer Schüttler and Dieter KIndlmann from Allgäu, who is valued in the industry, did not really work, in times of need Kerber looked for and found the tried and tested - in the form of Beltz.
skywimbledon
Kerber and Beltz - over the years that was not just pure harmony and perfect understanding. In the end, the three-time Grand Slam winner and her companion also split up twice, although in the case of Beltz it also played a role that the coach temporarily wanted more time for his family. Before Beltz last hired the German front woman again, he had worked with the Croatian Donna Vekic - the story ended rather unpleasant because they no longer agreed on training plans and other principles. For her part, Kerber won the Wimbledon title with Belgian Wim Fissette in 2018, but she wasn't really satisfied with the Kerber team around it either. “I play tennis best when I have familiar faces around me. When I know that I can trust these people unconditionally, ”says Kerber.
The greatest fighting morale
Even after all these years, Beltz lets his boss surprise him again and again, even if in principle he trusts her "a real amount". “It has never been worth it to write off Angie,” says Beltz, “there are few in tennis who have such a fighting morale as she does.” Skinny Schlaks also knows that Kerber's attitude towards life in her beloved sport changes when it comes up the green playing fields goes - in the short, intense lawn season. In 2021, too, the duo set their sights early on reaching the peak of their performance in the middle of the year. Then, if the new lawn tournaments were to take place in Germany, in Berlin and Bad Homburg. And if Wimbledon were to go back on stage after a year of forced Corona break.
In Bad Homburg, Beltz also discovered something of the stature of the player who had crowned her tennis life's work with a triumph at Wimbledon in mid-2018. Kerber went into the role of the tournament representative, but she was all the more convincing on the Center Court in the Hessian spa town. After all, the cup coup was the first since those magical days on Church Road 36 months ago, enhanced by the final victory over Serena Williams. "It was a pleasure to watch Angie," said Beltz in Bad Homburg. Perhaps he already suspected that something special would also be possible at Wimbledon, a strong run, another top result.
But now nothing at all seems impossible. Not after Kerber's gripping, determined, courageous appearance on the sacred lawn. After challenges that she mastered with great self-confidence, a firm ego and rediscovered passion. Kerber had simply come back to herself on her long journey through time, with the Champions edition of Kerber, with the woman for whom nothing is too difficult. Time and again in the last week and a half, Kerber looked up into the players' box at Beltz, the indispensable companion - happy, proud, satisfied with himself and the world. Who knows where the journey will go, for her, for him.
Here the single tableau in Wimbledon
wimmap