Before the biggest game of her career so far, Jule Niemeier is deeply relaxed. Prominent companions still have a lot of confidence in the 22-year-old.
Jule Niemeier hugged Andrea Petkovic and posed for selfies with the German fans next to her mentor.
With a thriller in doubles, Germany’s tennis hopes got in the mood for the biggest game of their career so far. After the gripping 7: 6 (7: 3), 5: 7, 7: 6 (14:12) in 2:37 hours against Miyu Kato from Japan and Aldila Sutjiadi from Indonesia alongside Petkovic, the 22-year-old scores on Friday at the grass classic in Wimbledon in the third individual round against the Ukrainian Lessia Zurenko. According to Angelique Kerber and women’s national coach Barbara Rittner, she can still achieve a lot not only there.
Kerber praises Niemeier
“She knows exactly what she can do, what she wants,” said 34-year-old Kerber about her teammate, who was twelve years younger. “You have to gain experience, you have to play the tournaments, you have to lose matches that hurt. Then there are matches like that for Jule, where she gains a lot of self-confidence and can hopefully confirm that.”
After her sensationally confident 6:4, 6:0 against Anett Kontaveit from Estonia, third in the world rankings, Niemeier has come into focus. Again and again, numerous tennis fans pushed past the narrow aisle at Wimbledon outdoor court five and watched the doubles. The new attention does not upset the fans of Borussia Dortmund and Rafael Nadal: “Of course a lot hits you. My team makes sure that I can classify it. I’m just enjoying it at the moment.”
The day before, Niemeier had celebrated her coup in the second largest stadium in the facility. “Jule got her best tennis on the big stage at the right time,” said Rittner of the German Press Agency. “It will give her a lot of self-confidence for the rest of the tournament, but also for her career in general.”
How far can Niemeier go?
Niemeier has long been considered one of the greatest talents in the second generation after Kerber, Petkovic and Julia Görges. Her high school diploma, several injuries and the shutdown of the sports world at the beginning of the corona pandemic temporarily slowed her rise. “She was about to take off just before Corona,” said Rittner. “She missed the matches. I’ve always said that if she stays calm and keeps working and doesn’t lose her head and gets restless, she’ll go her own way.”
This could lead to at least the round of 16 at the first appearance at the All England Lawn Tennis Club on Friday. “The match after such a match is not easy. But Jule knows exactly what she can do, »said her trainer Christopher Kas and expects his protégé to develop significantly even after Wimbledon: «Jule will play her best tennis in twelve or 18 months.»
Niemeier is currently number 97 in the world. At least the current tournament won’t help her climb the rankings yet, because there are no world ranking points due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian professionals. In the medium term, however, Niemeier could at least take over the role as German number two behind Kerber. The role of her doubles partner should not be underestimated from the women’s boss Rittner’s point of view. “An Andrea Petkovic is a kind of mentor,” said the 49-year-old. “It’s really worth mentioning what Andrea does.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
