Tennis player Jule Niemeier feels ready for the next coup at the US Open. It’s “extremely fun” for her to play against big names on the “big stage”, said the last German tennis hope at the Grand Slam tournament in New York: “That doesn’t intimidate me – and that’s extremely important. “
Especially in her second-round duel against Julija Putintseva on Thursday (around 19.00 CEST/Eurosport). The Russian-born Putintseva, who has been competing for Kazakhstan since 2012, is a “defensive artist”, is tactically very skilful and brings “a lot of experience with her”, Niemeier’s coach Christopher Kas told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur: “It’s a very demanding task, but I still expect an open match.”
Niemeier’s impressive opening win over former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin from the USA in particular boosts the coach’s optimism. “That was the best match of her career on hard court – and against a former Grand Slam winner,” Kas enthused. If she can maintain this form, a place in the third round is definitely possible: “If she serves well and returns well, goes to the net from time to time, adds a few variations, then she can also get into good positions against Putintseva.”
It will also be important that the Dortmund player does not let Putintseva, who has often attracted attention as a provocateur in the past, upset her. “If she comes up with one or two antics, Jule will not let herself be impressed,” Kas believes.
