Last year he moved to Regensburg to the tennis academy of Michael Geserer, who once worked successfully with Julia Görges. There coach Christopher Kas and physiotherapist Florian Zitzelsberger took care of Niemeier. Rank 94 was her best placement so far at the beginning of May, after Wimbledon she traveled as number 97 in the world.
Rittner trusts Niemeier Top 20
National coach Barbara Rittner thinks highly of Niemeier: “She is a very intelligent player and has an unbelievable touch. Jule has all the weapons for a top player. I trust her to be in the top 20 in the world.”
The strength of the 1.78 meter woman: the power that she can generate, especially with the forehand and her serve. The fast turf of Wimbledon suits her style of play like no other surface.
At her young age, she seems surprisingly strong mentally. She doesn’t even let the hustle and bustle about her person get to her. From the outside, there is little sign of nervousness on the pitch. Most recent example: Her no-frills round of 16 win over Heather Watson – 6-2, 6-4 against a local hero on the facility’s largest pitch, where she was allowed to play for the first time. You could have gotten nervous in the match. But not Niemeier.
Kas: “Of course it’s all awesome”
Her trainer, ex-doubles specialist Christopher Kas, says enthusiastically about his protégé in the t-online interview: “Of course it’s all very exciting, there’s always a ‘first, first, first'”. Wimbledon for the first time, Center Court for the first time, in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time – of course that’s all great.”
But otherwise, Niemeier is very much himself. According to her own statement, what is written and said about her these days affects her little. “I try to hide that because I really don’t care,” says Niemeier. “I haven’t read a single article yet.”
In Wimbledon she will collect the equivalent of at least 360,000 euros in prize money. That’s around 30,000 euros more than she’s earned in her entire career to date. A milestone. At least financially. In terms of world rankings, despite her fabulous run, she will not be able to make a leap towards the top 50. At Wimbledon, after the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes, no points will be credited for the ranking.
This Tuesday, Niemeier meets compatriot Tatjana Maria in the quarter-finals. Another remarkable story. Even mother of two, Maria, now 34, has never gotten that far at Wimbledon. The game is played at 2 p.m. on Court 1, the second largest on Church Road. It is possible that Niemeier will receive more messages from Dortmund after the match.