On Monday, the most important tennis tournament in the world begins at the London address SW19. For the national coach Barbara Rittner Angelique Kerber is not to be underestimated. But the victory of trust in a player.
DW: Ms. Rittner, you know! Who will win this year Wimbledon?
Rittner: For the men, it is Roger Federer, and in the case of the women, I think Petra Kvitova will win in spite of their serious hand injury. I am very excited and it is totally open. There are probably 30 players who can win this year. I let myself be surprised.
Can Shooting Star Jelena Ostapenko repeat their surprising success from Paris?
Tend not. Ostapenko is no turf specialist. On grass you need more experience and a special inner peace, because I would be surprised a success of Ostapenko. On lawn, there’s a certain Serenity helps. You should not even smile once, if it works. I see other players in the front.
In the last week of the preparation tournament in Mallorca: Julia Görges was subjected to for a long time with injury problems on the road and form fluctuations, came to the finals. She has also played for the Fed Cup Team. Julia is the strongest German player of this year in London?
Of course, one cannot appreciate our number one, Angelique Kerber. She was in Wimbledon last year in the finals, before that, even in the semi-finals. Angie’s game is perfect for grass. Your premium that is not otherwise their strength will be on the lawn of a weapon. If she is fit and with self-confidence is a good thing in the tournament is coming, will you join in the conversation at Wimbledon is certainly a word.
Julia Görges
As for Julia Görges, the form of fluctuations in the meanwhile, is very constant and is back in the top 50 in the world rankings. A great success at a Grand Slam tournament, is still missing. But she has greatly improved physical Fitness, and she has built a Team with which she feels comfortable, she works concentrated on their weaknesses. And if you runs as in the Form of Mallorca, also in Wimbledon, want to play no one like against Julia Görges.
Of hunters and the hunted
Return to Angelique Kerber: the Wimbledon victory 2017 trust?
If a player is the number one in the world, and the first round is good survives, then it belongs to the Top favourites. But you don’t need to always talk from the tournament victory. I wish Angie that she comes with ease and pleasure to Wimbledon and a good start to the tournament starts. But you should leave the Church in the village and Angie a bit of time. She has shown that she can win big tournaments, but also that you can lose games.
Angelique Kerber
It’s not a Problem for Kerber that she sees might be really on the throne? In my view it is better in the role of the attacker, if an other – for example, Serena Williams is at the top.
I think this is among the Top players and players in General. I’m with Boris [Becker, ed.] and Roger Federer talked to that knows the feeling, to stand long in the front. It is a lot of hunting easier, than to stand up and to be hunted. And Angie is someone who asks over and over, and maybe sometimes a bit too much to think about.
In the past few days, a verbal altercation between John Mcnroe and Serena Williams has engaged the Twitter community. If we have understood McEnroe correctly, he wants to take with his criticism of Serena Williams, he attested to the Level of a men’s player to Position 700, at the same time the level in women’s Tennis. He has to be right?
No, I think the statements are embarrassing! You can’t do that, but you have to take into account the physical condition, strength, Leverage and something. In no Sport in this world you can compare ladies and gentlemen. I guess John McEnroe as a commentator and listen to him, but the now …. I’ve heard he wants to sell a book and needs the attention.
Where we are in the men’s Alexander Zverev Slam ready for a first Grand victory? Or for the finals?
I would have never expected that he will win the tournament in Rome. A Grand Slam final is a question of time. I wish him well, that he comes into Wimbledon in the second week. He is still a young man in development. You should have patience with him. Much will depend on how much energy he consumes in the first round. The Five-set Matches are a different number. But eventually, the Grand Slam victory will come. It’s amazing how constant Alexander Zverev has been playing.
Barbara Rittner (44) since 2005 Fed Cup Boss and the ladies national coach of the German Tennis Federation (DTB). It counted as a professional of the most successful German Tennis players. In Wimbledon she won in 1991 the Junior indoor title.
The interview was conducted by Marko Long