2021 has been mixed for German tennis so far.
DTB women boss Barbara Rittner (47) fears that things could get even worse in the course of the year.
Ms. Rittner, you predicted difficult phases for the German women.
Would you have thought that your vision skills would be confirmed in early 2021?
You could see that coming.
Various circumstances came together at the Australian Open *.
For example, bad luck with the draw or the quarantine conditions.
With the result that only Mona Barthel reached the second round.
It can happen that we only have one or two women in the main field at a Grand Slam * over the coming years.
Let's wait and see.
Angelique Kerber struggled with quarantine in Australia.
On the other hand, Jennifer Brady was in the same situation but stormed into the finals.
What did she do better?
The tournament went almost perfectly for Brady.
For example, she didn't have to beat a player from the top 20 until the final.
That shouldn't detract from their performance at all.
Mentally she mastered the quarantine excellently and tried to focus on the positive and not let the negative get to her.
Angie had done an excellent preparation.
Then she had to spend two weeks in the hotel room.
She was and is in top shape.
However, I had the feeling that shortly before the tournament started, she put too much pressure on herself and lost her looseness.
In addition, at the age of 33, you don't cope with the circumstances as easily as a Brady in your mid-twenties.
Jennifer Brady is trained by the German Michael Geserer.
A conscious step to get out of your comfort zone, she says.
Do young Germans lack this courage?
One cannot generalize that, but it is partly true.
The generation around Angelique Kerber, Andrea Petkovic and Julia Görges had the courage to break new ground very consistently.
In contrast to the players afterwards?
If I look at the generation afterwards, one can see from a distance that at a certain point they were not ready to test these new or different paths.
I have often advised them: “Go abroad, try something new!” But I can only make suggestions.
The player has to take this step on her own.
They lacked the stamina and the ability to suffer from the "golden generation" from Kerber, Petkovic, Görges, as I like to call them because of their many successes.
What can we still expect from Kerber in 2021?
She still has the opportunity to play for the big titles.
However, she needs a few matches to feel comfortable and safe on the pitch.
If she gets into a run of a few matches she has won, she can still beat any player in the world.
The Australian Open was not a yardstick for Angelique Kerber's performance.
To do this, she first has to find her match rhythm again.
You haven't been there for a long time, but in the TV studio in Munich.
Strictly speaking, the first time in exactly 30 years.
I've been there every year since 1991.
First as a player, then from 2005 as team boss of the DTB.
I really missed the on-site atmosphere in Melbourne.
As does the sun.
The German winter is quite nice.
But he can't keep up with January in Australia.
I now appreciate this privilege even more.
Can winner Naomi Osaka achieve Serena Williams status?
Naomi Osaka is currently in a class of her own on hard court with trainer Wim Fissette at her side.
Nevertheless, she had to fend off match points against Muguruza.
It could have been over for them early.
It wasn't a walk in the park.
The form of the day always plays a role here.
As of today, it's a better version of Serena Williams.
Time will tell if she can show it for years.
Like a Djokovic, Federer or Nadal for men.
These players have lived extremely focused on their sport for almost two decades.
That an Osaka says in a few years: “That's it for me.
Five Grand Slam titles are enough for me.
Now I take care of other things in life, ”I wouldn't rule out.
Kerber also worked with Wim Fissette.
Won Wimbledon with the Belgian.
Was the breakup a mistake?
I can not judge over this.
But both sides will have had reasons.
Wim Fissette is certainly an excellent coach, but also a character of his own.
In interviews, he now emphasizes that Naomi Osaka is his first time working with a world star.
Sorry - he trained Angie Kerber, Viktoria Azarenka and Kim Clijsters.
All of them were at the top of the world rankings and have won Grand Slams.
A statement that can be discussed.
Osaka shines beyond the square.
Absolutely.
I think your attitude is great.
Because you have to be able to endure that.
The easier way is to just focus on the sport and stay out of social debates.
So you don't make yourself vulnerable.
Osaka consciously chooses a different path and stands up for its convictions.
I find that remarkable.
You keep emphasizing that too many distractions pound on talent.
Like social media.
But don't these bother the offspring in the US or Australia just as much? You keep emphasizing that too many distractions pound in on talent.
Like social media.
But don't these bother the offspring in the USA or Australia just as much?
But it does more harm to one mentality than to the other.
I think we Germans are best when we work very focused on a goal.
US talent is more relaxed about these distractions and less likely to lose focus.
During our training weeks, I keep observing how often female players hang out on their mobile phones.
I find this dependency worrying.
Which was very different in your career.
Yes.
And I'm very happy about that.
That is incredibly exhausting and takes a lot of strength.
Everything is rated and commented on on Instagram and Co.
The way you look.
What you wear.
How you play
The young women are insulted anonymously.
Not everyone can handle that.
I keep saying to many players: “Don't read anything, put your cell phone away for a while and then just concentrate on yourself and your tennis.” However, this train has already left.
Alexander Zverev * has returned to his comfort zone and is completely trusting his family again.
Yes, although he has always brought outside influences into the team.
Be it with Ivan Lendl or David Ferrer, who mainly didn't want to work as his coach anymore because of the Corona * pandemic.
Actually, the combination worked very well.
Maybe the two of them will find each other again.
I think he's already open.
Or he finds another solution.
For example Boris Becker?
That would definitely be an interesting collaboration.
But such a decision is not easy.
It has to fit into the current life plan of those affected.
You either do that entirely or not at all.
It has to be the perfect time for both sides.
Will Zverev win a Grand Slam tournament in 2021?
I don't know whether he'll win one this year.
A lot has to fit together for this.
But I'm quite sure that he will win another Grand Slam tournament in his career.
He has the class, the hard work and the attitude.
Djokovic, Federer and Nadal don't play forever either.
By then, at the latest, it should be ready.
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The shining superstar: Naomi Osaka with the Melbourne Cup.
© AFP
The interview was conducted by Daniel Müksch.
* tz.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.