analysis
The German Billie Jean King Cup team is relegated from the World Group for the first time since 2012. The weekend in Ismaning shows that things are currently not going well for professional women’s tennis in this country. But there are reasons for cautious optimism.
“A little shocked at what has become of German women’s tennis.” These were the words of Sven Groeneveld, coach for players like Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova over the past 30 years, on
Empty halls and comparisons with times of success
And of course, if you compare the picture of the hall, which offered space for almost 1,500 spectators this weekend, with those from the Graf era, you come to the conclusion that German women’s tennis is on the rocks. For the first time since 2013, the DTB will no longer be part of the team tennis team next season.
The German team, which was relegated from the World Group this weekend, was not born out of necessity, despite two high-profile failures. Eva Lys and Ella Seidel, who have been in the top 100 since this year and, in the case of Lys, in the top 50, are expected to have a permanent membership in the extended top of world tennis in the next few years. Two experienced players, Anna-Lena Friedsam and Jule Niemeier, were part of the team. A team that was believed to be able to stay in the league against Turkey and Belgium. Especially since Belgium didn’t have its two best players available.
The veterans as supports
However, the two “old ladies” Laura Siegemund and Tatjana Maria were sorely missed this weekend. “We have three players in the top 50. None of them played today. They are missing in every corner”said team boss Rainer Schüttler. The 37-year-old Siegemund in particular, who is in the top 50 of the world rankings in both singles and doubles, would have been a good fit for the young German team with her experience. Shaker: “Laura would have led the doubles. Jule (Niemeier) and Anna (Friedsam) haven’t played together for a long time. So a lot of things come together.”
Jule Niemeier, who had already declared her season over a few weeks ago after what she considered to be the most difficult year of her career, was nominated. The lack of match practice and the lack of self-confidence due to the lack of success became noticeable in the doubles against Turkey. And so the question is justified: Is German women’s tennis on the rocks? In any case, the answer to this is not a striking one.
Young Ella Seidel in the role of Top player
Eva Lys, who made a remarkable rise to number 40 in the world rankings in 2025, is not yet the leading player she would like to be. A thigh injury put her out of action for the decisive game against Belgium. So 20-year-old Ella Seidel suddenly became the top German player. The fact that she was not yet able to fulfill this role became abundantly clear in her unpleasantly clear defeat against the Belgian Hanne Vandewinkel, 40 positions behind Seidel in the world rankings.
Maria and Siegemund are in the late autumn of their careers. Their successes in 2025 also ensured that the overall result looked pleasing. But the truth is that behind Lys and Seidel things are (still) poor when it comes to the depth in German tennis.
Restrained optimism: The young generation is gaining steam
2025 also showed that things can look up again in the next few years. The DTB offspring made a name for themselves not only among the juniors. Eva Bennemann and Sonja Zhenikhova won the junior doubles competition at the French Open, Julia Stusek was one of the eight players in the Junior Masters, the junior equivalent of the WTA Finals. Tessa Brockmann, 19 years old, as a substitute in Ismaning, is already in the top 300 in the world rankings after a strong year.
In 2026 the attempt must be made to get back into the world group. It is not clear whether this will happen with Lys and Seidel. Schüttler said about his top players shortly after the encounter against Belgium: “The players should be obliged to continue representing Germany and then get promoted as quickly as possible.”
The way back will be difficult
However, the WTA Tour calendar is merciless and the results of the previous year need to be defended. In their advanced professional age, Maria and Siegemund will also look closely at what commitments they make.
The road back to the Billie Jean King Cup world group is rocky. The DTB should be keen to be among the elite in this competition too. In order to attract a larger audience, to offer the young players a platform to draw attention to themselves. And perhaps also so that deserving coaches no longer have to wonder what has become of German women’s tennis.