Anna-Lena Friedsam before duel with Kerber: attractive rendezvous in the ghost slam
Anna-Lena Friedsam was considered a great hope for the successors of the Kerber, Petkovic and Görges generation, but then the injuries came. Now Friedsam is back, in round 2 of the US Open she will meet: Angie Kerber.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit:
Sep 02, 2020, 10:51 am
Angelique Kerber had just mastered her first US Open task in the deserted Ashe Stadium, when one could hear very familiar tones from the German number one in this strange new tennis universe. She “didn't look at the draw at all” for the tournament, concentrating “fully” on her own work, her own work, her own company team: “I'll see to it that I continue to build trust. Security and self-confidence ", said Kerber (32) after the smooth 6: 4, 6: 4 win against the Australian Ajla Tomljanovic," I don't really care who comes against me now. "
Whether the ignorance was cheated or real - in any case, in the second round, the former front woman of women's tennis meets a pretty familiar face on Wednesday. To Anna-Lena Friedsam, the courageous Rhinelander who was once traded as the most promising heir of the golden generation around Kerber, Andrea Petkovic and Julia Görges. For Kerber, the game against Friedsam may be Grand Slam everyday business, for Friedsam (first round 6: 2, 6: 2 against Caroline Dolehide), on the other hand, it is a big moment at one of the biggest tournaments in the world. A ray of hope after many dark days in recent years. "I'm really looking forward to the match," says the 26-year-old, who has meanwhile spent more time in doctors' offices, hospitals and rehabilitation facilities than on the training field. Friedsam, who had advanced to the top of the world in 2015 and 2016, had two shoulder operations violently set back, time and again her comeback missions were accompanied by setbacks. “It wasn't an easy time,” says Friedsam, “but I never gave up. The belief that I could do it again was actually always there. "
Peacefully on the advance again before the Corona break
In her best moments, Friedsam has the mighty game to hit every opponent on Center Court tremendously. In the industry, this is often referred to as “big game”, the ability to place victory strokes with massive power from every corner of the field. Four or five years ago Friedsam showed these qualities early in her career, she reached the second tournament week at the Australian Open at the age of 20, slipped into the top 50 in the world rankings, and was appointed to the Fed Cup team. Then came the injuries, the worries, the frustrations. The questions of when and how things will go on with your own career. But never the resignation, the impulse to "maybe throw everything away."
When the tennis year 2020 had already come to a standstill for most players, including Kerber, Friedsam caused a stir. At the beginning of March she was on the roller coaster ride of her tennis life again on the way up, at the tournament in Lyon she beat top-class competition from the field with the Russian Daria Kasatkina and local hero Kristina Mladenovic. USA) are slowed down. "It was also confirmation of the hard work I put into my comeback," said the high school graduate who had once decided against a career in women's football and tennis. And she said this, too, confidently and resolutely: "I'm back in the game."
Peaceful against Kerber: "Play bravely"
Which was probably right. Literally but unfortunately not afterwards either. Because the encouraging appearance in France was followed by lockdown, the shutdown of the tennis circus, the long, long compulsory break. Friedsam was not annoyed for long, however, she soon used the tournament standstill to further improve her fitness and her game. She also took part in the first tournaments in Germany, organized by the DTB or private organizers. Now is the US Open rendezvous with Kerber, with the New York winner from 2016. On one of the large courts in the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, but on an orphaned stage. She wants to play “free and courageous”, says Friedsam. It should also be a game that pursues the larger goal: "I want to get back to the point where I was before in my career." Further up the ranking, in much closer contact with the best and most successful.
Kerber, the three-time Grand Slam winner, stands in her way. The old champion is only in 17th place in New York, but there are quite a few who believe her to be a surprise coup at this major tournament in a state of emergency. Kerber looks wiry, fit, rested. Relaxed in the attitude of not being allowed or having to expect anything: "Every victory is a gift," says Kerber, "I hope that I will keep getting stronger."