Berlin National coach Barbara Rittner sees German women’s tennis in a good position even after the generational change.
“It’s clear that the golden generation no longer exists in this form,” Rittner told “Tennis Magazin” with regard to the retirements of Julia Görges and Andrea Petkovic as well as Angelique Kerber’s pregnancy break: “It’s also a fact that with Tatjana Maria and Jule Niemeier we would have two players in the Top 30 if there had been points at Wimbledon.”
The 23-year-old Niemeier, who reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the last 16 at the US Open this year, is closing the gap “impressively”, the national coach praised: “She is tall, has a good serve, can play very variably. She is a player for the very front.” However, she said, one should not expect the Dortmund player to ensure good results on her own: “That would be too much pressure and stress on her shoulders.”
The experienced Tatjana Maria also has a responsibility – and the Wimbledon semi-finalist is absolutely living up to it, Rittner stressed: “At 35, she is in top shape, playing her best tennis. She has also confirmed her results on hard court, so that she is ranked 70th in the world even without Wimbledon. “
