In the German women’s tennis, a player is currently missing who is fighting for the really big tournament victories. Angelique Kerber believes that it is only a matter of time until a world-class athlete comes from Germany.
“We just need patience. And I know that Germany or general people are not patient. I don’t. But we have to take a little time now because I know exactly that we have really very, very good young talents,” said Kerber at the sidelines of her imagination as a new tournament director in Bad Homburg in exclusive interview with RTL/NTV and sports.de.
Kerber does not worry about the fact that after the successes in the 2010s, when the 37-year-old himself won three Grand Slam titles, now gives a dry spell.
“With a Andrea Petkovic, Sabine Lisicki, Julia Görges. That was a generation, every country wishes. And of course it is clear that at some point a hole threatens and we slowly get there,” said the native of Bremen.
Now you may have to wait “two or three generations”. But at the latest then the tennis sport will “boom again”, Kerber is certain.
Kerber sees bright spots in German tennis
At the same time, Rio’s silver medal winner is important that the current ranks of the German Tennis Association does not get away too badly just because the great successes have failed to materialize.
“We still have a Tatjana Maria, we still have a Laura Siegemund, now an Eva Lys who performed well in Australia,” Kerber recalled.
Whether there is a top player from Kerber again at some point, she didn’t want to commit herself with a view of her daughter. “If Liana would like to play tennis and also want to be a professional, I will always support her,” said the former world ranking.
However, she will not put her daughter under pressure in this regard. In any case, it is the best recipe for success to tackle sport with fun and not with pressure to succeed.
“As a little child, I didn’t think about what to expect when I actually become a professional,” noted Kerber. Tennis was simply her passion from the start.