The head of German women's tennis Barbara Rittner in an exclusive interview about Corona loneliness, too quiet women and German youth concerns.
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Barbara Rittner is the head of German women's tennis
© dpa / Ina Fassbender
She is the strong woman in German women's tennis.
From 2007 to 2017, Barbara Rittner was the head of the German Fed Cup team and as "Head of Women's Tennis" she is currently responsible for the development of the female professionals.
In this position, the 47-year-old from Cologne has not been an easy year.
In an interview with our newspaper, however, Rittner explains why the Corona year 2020 can also see positive aspects.
Rittner would like the female top stars to be more present
Angelique Kerber believes she can still win big tournaments
In her opinion, young talents rarely leave the comfort zone
Ms. Rittner, how happy are you that 2020 is drawing to a close?
From a sporting and private perspective.
Just because the year ends doesn't mean the next one will be better.
I assume that the pandemic will also be with us in 2021.
Everyone personally, but also sport and of course tennis.
But you can't get much positive out of the last twelve months, can you?
Even if it sounds strange and egotistical at first, it was a good year for me professionally overall.
Due to the first lockdown and the tournament break, we had time to hold many very intensive courses with the young players and to work on things like physical fitness, for which otherwise too little time in the hectic everyday tournament.
Regardless of that, of course, I miss meeting friends and social contacts.
It starts to get on your nerves, makes you sad and you sometimes feel alone.
It was noticeable that men's and women's tennis dealt with the pandemic very differently.
There were two men's tournaments in succession in Cologne, but no women's event.
It was very unfortunate and I still regret it to this day.
The men had 2-3 tournaments every week.
For the women, the season after the French Open was as good as over.
In Cologne, the organizer Emotion tried to get the women on board.
I was the tournament director there.
We opened the door wide, but the WTA was too slow and cumbersome that in the end we had to decide on two men's ATP tournaments one after the other.
Especially sad for the German players.
Another proof that professional tennis must be organized under one roof?
As requested by Roger Federer.
I'm with Roger.
From my point of view, it would make sense if the ATP, WTA, ITF and the Grand Slams sit under one roof.
At the moment everyone is cooking their own soup.
Large joint events by men and women would be the right approach.
Then also a little less tournaments.
However, I was astonished that the women didn't complain louder about their corona situation and the few tournaments.
Unlike the gentlemen.
I agree.
With Federer, Nadal or Djokovic there are loudspeakers that cannot be overheard and also advocate for lower-positioned colleagues.
When it comes to women, we have few personalities in this area - except for Serena Williams.
Otherwise I don't hear much there.
Particularly seasoned players like Simona Halep and Ashleigh Barty from Australia have to communicate louder.
Or an Angelique Kerber.
Angie would be heard for sure, no question about it.
Let's look to 2021. Do you expect the Australian Open to take place?
I am optimistic that the tournament will take place.
A little later than usual, however.
These are the signals that I've heard behind the scenes so far.
So are you already looking for a flight?
No.
For the first time in 32 years I won't be at the Australian Open.
1989 for the first time as a player, later as a team boss.
There is a lot of sadness in it.
But as the German Tennis Association we decided not to send any coaches to Melbourne.
The players themselves are only allowed to be on site with a very small team.
I will accompany the tournament from Munich as an expert for Eurosport.
At Kerber, Rittner still expects "great victories"
Alexander Zverev has provided sporting highlights for men in 2020.
The women lack top results, for which Angelique Kerber was otherwise a safe bet.
You forget that Angie got really badly injured at the end of 2019.
Nevertheless, she has made herself fit for Australia and has gone beyond her borders there.
Even without Corona, it would have been out for several months afterwards.
But I have to honestly say that we shouldn't demand anything more from the Kerber generation.
The generation has delivered over the years.
These players have achieved so much, sacrificed so much for tennis - everything that comes next is an encore.
The icing on the cake for outstanding careers.
Is Kerber still a contender for big titles?
Mentally definitely.
Angie is still on fire.
Otherwise she wouldn't go on playing.
I just worry about the body.
This also applies to Andrea Petkovic.
Both have used their bodies so hard over the years that they have reached a physical limit in their early 30s.
However, if Angie finds her way back to her best physical condition, then you can count on her for the big wins.
Julia Görges has resigned.
At 32, just like you.
Farewell too soon?
We cannot judge that from the outside.
However, I do believe that Jule might have continued to play without Corona.
She needs joy and fun to be able to achieve her top performance.
This has been missing more and more due to Corona and the ghost tournaments in isolation.
In addition, in the lockdown, she also got to know how nice it can be to be at home.
Less stress, a quieter private life, no traveling, cooking yourself, etc. She simply learned to appreciate normal life.
Jule gives me the impression that she is at peace with herself and her decision.
How did you like Andrea Petkovic's book?
I'm not through yet, I have to admit.
First I had to get used to the non-chronological structure.
Of course, I've already read your chapter about me and the Fed Cup.
That touched me very much.
You rarely get something like that back from a player.
There is a performance gap behind this generation.
Do we have to get used to years without German women at the top of the world rankings?
At the moment we would probably go to the Fed Cup with Kerber, Petkovic, Friedsam, Siegemund.
I'm not afraid of that.
This is world class.
Behind that we have a few good talents, they are now 18 or 19. I started in 2005 when we had one player in the top 50 and three in the top 100. We are still a long way from that.
As a team boss, I partially left after the first round of a Grand Slam.
That could happen again in the transition.
But that should only be a snapshot and not a permanent state.
Are the young players lacking the willingness to subordinate everything to success?
I would like the next generation to leave their comfort zone more often.
It is badly said, a spoiled - to put it nicely, a very sheltered generation.
If I compare Kerber, Petkovic and Co with the younger players, then some have a similar level of talent, but the Kerber generation was tougher.
Their successes were the result of discipline and perseverance.
And here the young players can still learn a lot.
But they are on the right track and are working hard on themselves.
Interview: Daniel Müksch
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For Barbara Rittner, the young talents can learn a lot from Angelique Kerber.
© Photo: AFP
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