Bundestrainer Barbara Rittner does not think tennis player Jule Niemeier has a chance against world number one Iga Swiatek in the last 16 of the US Open.
“She is really one for the big courts, for the big stage. She’s not afraid to perform there at all,” Rittner told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur: “Jule has nothing to lose, but she mustn’t play too risky and make too many mistakes either.”
The match today, Monday, against Swiatek of Poland, who has already won the French Open this year, is a duel of opposites, said the national coach: “One of the best servers meets one of the best returners, which makes the match incredibly exciting.” The key question is how well Swiatek can “read and defuse” the serve of the dynamic Dortmund player.
With her three wins so far, the Wimbledon quarter-finalist had already positively surprised Niemeier at the last Grand Slam tournament of the year on hard court. “Her will and courage to go through with her attacking game I find impressive,” Rittner said. Niemeier was “really fearless, dominating with her strong serve and going for the second ball very boldly with her powerful forehand”.
But Swiatek, whose 37-match winning streak was snapped at the third-round exit in Wimbledon, is also “back in top form” at the US Open, Rittner said: “She hasn’t shown any weaknesses so far. Of course, it will be difficult for Jule.
