interview
As a tennis player, Anke Huber made it to fourth place in the world rankings in 1996. Today she rarely picks up the racket.
Interview: Sabine Hoffmann
Ms. Huber, are there friends or acquaintances who voluntarily match you?
I have to admit that I rarely play tennis anymore. So there would probably already be some who would like to play against me because then they win.
At just 16 you triumphed over Martina Navratilova in the 1991 Filderstadt final. Was it clear to you then that you had pulled off a sporting coup?
No, at that age as a player you just want to get further, further, further and better and better. Even for me it was a big surprise when I won the match. I didn’t realize my victory until I was in the Porsche that I won in addition to the prize money.
However, they did not yet have a driver’s license. Did you secretly drive the Porsche down country lanes?
Yes, together with my father. But until I was allowed to drive myself, my Porsche was in the garage most of the time. In 1994, with my second win in Filderstadt, I won another one. I still have it to this day.
Are the successes in Filderstadt among the best moments of your career?
And the Masters final against Steffi in Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 spectators. The atmosphere was unique.
In 1995 you fought a legendary match with Steffi Graf: you lost to her in five sets
The audience was rooting for it. Although I lost, I was celebrated.
Does it annoy you that you never beat Graf?
Sure, somehow yes. Steffi was one of the greatest athletes back then. Unfortunately, I never really believed in myself or that I could defeat them. That annoys me even more than the fact that I always lost to them.
© New York Daily News
Anke Huber, born in Bruchsal in 1974, became German Junior Champion at the age of eleven. Four years later she won her first WTA tournament. In a team with Steffi Graf, Barbara Rittner and Sabine Hack, she won the Federation Cup in 1992. In 1996 she was fourth in the world rankings. After several injuries, Huber resigned in 2001. The following year she became the athletic director of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. She has two children with her husband, Moritz, 18, and Laura, 16.
Outwardly you stood in their shadow. Did you feel that way too?
No. I grew up in a great tennis era. Every game was broadcast, tennis was constantly on TV. In the end it was the high point of tennis with Boris, Michael, Steffi and me. At most I found it a bit of a shame that it wasn’t considered a great achievement when I was in the semi-finals or finals of a major tournament. The others had already won too much for that. Otherwise, I’m happy that I was allowed to play tennis back then.
What are you doing today?
I am president of the Eagles Charity Golf Club and athletic director of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. I also look after my two children and do a lot with them.
Her partner is player advisor Roger Wittmann. Is there a lot of football at home?
Only very little. I’m not that familiar with it either. I don’t know many of his players and prefer to stay out of it.
Would you have liked to have had your husband as a consultant in the past?
Yes, he works closely with his players, is very ambitious and professional. That would have taken me one step further.
Source: Stern
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