The two beach volleyball players seemed relaxed when WDR reached them on the phone on Wednesday morning (June 1st, 2022). “Actually, we’re already done for strength training and no longer with coffee“Both laughingly explain when asked how they are despite the appointment in the early morning. It’s immediately clear that the two of them get along well off the court. Nevertheless, the title on the World Tour in Ostrava should have strengthened this good mood.
First title in the seventh tournament
The victory in the tournament was by no means foreseeable: the duo came out of qualification and ultimately only had to accept a defeat in the group phase. After that, Tillmann and Müller duped the assembled world elite, first beating number two in the world in the quarterfinals and then number three in the semifinals.
“That was a special win for us. It was the first on the big stage, where all the world elite start. In addition, we played only the seventh international tournament together as a duo“, they explained. They played from “point to point” and that “went very well”.
Top talent Müller and defensive ace Tillmann fit together
The mix seems to be right: at 30, Tillmann has a lot of experience and is responsible for defense and passes. “I’ve never played with such a good defender. What she scratched out, especially at the last tournament, was just blatant“, praised partner Müller.
On the other hand, Svenja Müller, who is perhaps the greatest talent in German beach volleyball at the moment, is at the front of the block and attack. Müller is playing his first international year at the age of 21. “Just think how long it took a Laura Ludwig, for example, to get to the top“Said Andreas Scheuerpflug from the German Volleyball Association and elaborates:”And she comes in the first year and seventh tournament and blows away the world elite.“
Tillmann/Müller: “Sand is more fun for us than indoor courts”
Tillmann also praises her partner: “She has done a lot in the athletic field in the last year and a half.“In addition, she is “incredibly focused” on the game and the goals of the duo. By the way, Müller’s role model is Kira Walkenhorst.”When I just started playing beach volleyball, Kira Walkenhorst and Laura Ludwig were very successful“, she explains her enthusiasm for the former Olympic and world champion.
Both Müller and Tillmann originally come from indoor volleyball – as does Walkenhorst, by the way. You can hardly compare the two sports. “Everyone has to decide for themselves what they think is better.”, explained Tillmann. In the end, the fascination for the sand was greater for both of them: “Beach volleyball is definitely more fun for us, so we made a conscious decision to do it.”
No pressure for the World Cup in Rome
The duo doesn’t feel any pressure, not even in view of the increased public awareness after the victory in Ostrava. “Our focus is now on the World Cup in Rome in mid-June. We haven’t set ourselves any place as a destination. Just play as well as possible“, look ahead.
After that there are two more home tournaments, which are marked in bold on the calendar: the Elite16 tournament in Hamburg in August – and of course the European championships, which are held as part of the “european championships” (live on the sports show) a week earlier. Maybe it will work again with a title at the latest – that wouldn’t be surprising anymore.