The former tennis player Andrea Petkovic worries about the offspring of the German women. “What I notice is that there are still great talents, but we have much, much less,” said Petkovic at the grass classic in Wimbledon.
“In my generation we were 10, 12 or 15, and then four or five emerged from that, which then became good,” said Petkovic. That is no longer the case today.
“I don’t know exactly why it is. Whether it’s the generation or the fact that competitive sport doesn’t arouse as much desire as it used to,” said the former number nine in the world.
Ex-tennis pro Petkovic is a consultant for Jule Niemeier
The pressure on the few talents is inevitably higher. “That doesn’t make it that easy for them. But there are still great talents with a lot of potential,” said Petkovic, who now works as a mentor for the German Tennis Association after retiring.
In this function she also acts as a consultant for Jule Niemeier. The 23-year-old is now experiencing a complicated season after her breakthrough last year.
Also in Wimbledon she was eliminated in the second round against the unknown Hungarian Dalma Galfi. “It was clear to me beforehand that this year would be difficult for Jule. Because last year she flew under the radar a bit,” said Petkovic.
You and Angelique Kerber would still have played in 2022 and attracted a lot of attention. That is no longer the case. “I think that’s completely normal and that you have to give her this year. But next year she has to build on the performances she’s already shown,” Petkovic demanded of the Dortmund player, who is currently only number 103 in the world.