Jule Niemeier causes a stir at the US Open. Her next opponent is a Chinese teenager. In order to be able to stand up to them, she and her coach hatched a special plan. As a reward, you can expect a lot of experience and a big jump in the world rankings.
Out of the hustle and bustle and quickly back to her quiet zone - Jule Niemeier didn't want to waste her strength or concentration after her next coup in New York. "We're trying to get off the facility as quickly as possible," said the high-flyer in German tennis after entering the third round at the US Open. For the 23-year-old from Dortmund, the loud, wild, restless hustle and bustle around the Grand Slam tournament in the world metropolis is still new territory, after all she is making her main draw debut. And she's brilliant at resisting all potential temptations and staying in focus.
"I think we managed to get some rest into everyday life," said Niemeier after beating Kazakhstan Julia Putinzewa 6-4, 6-3 with a cool second appearance in the Big Apple. According to her coach Christopher Kas, despite the increasing importance, his protégé is now getting a little easier mentally from match to match. "Because you can take the positive emotions with you and then you're in a situation where nothing can happen anymore," said the 42-year-old before the game against Zheng Qinwen of China today. (approx. 11.30 p.m./Eurosport).
The US Open is already a success story for Niemeier. As at Wimbledon, when her run only ended in the quarter-finals, she is again a positive surprise for the German fans, who have otherwise only experienced seven first-round defeats in both men and women. In the world rankings she is already sure of a good set, in 86th place ahead of her Wimbledon conqueror Tatjana Maria, the 1.78 meter tall athlete could rank.
Niemeier's New York mode, developed in collaboration with Kas, works perfectly. He schedules plenty of hotel rest and sessions at the more secluded practice hall at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. Looking around the facility is out of the question. She behaves in such a way "that I don't notice anything about the hustle and bustle, because there is just so much going on".
In the evening we go together relaxed to the Italian - to take a look at the next challenge over a meal. It will be big for Niemeier against Zheng. The 19-year-old is also just getting going and is in the third round of the third major in a row. "She is a very, very good player, has an extremely strong forehand and can play very quickly," said Niemeier: "I have to be there with my legs and move very well."
Zheng returned the compliments saying Niemeier was "very hard to beat". The two opponents have each recorded one win against each other, most recently Zheng won in the qualifiers of a preparatory tournament in Melbourne at the beginning of the year. If Niemeier is the world number 39. disenchanted, the pioneer of the new generation in German women's tennis could face an extremely attractive duel in the round of 16 with Iga Swiatek, number one in the world and title favorite in New York.
But the Borussia Dortmund supporter has not thought that far, only the next challenge counts for Niemeier, who does not indulge in dreams of a Grand Slam triumph. Rather, her current career phase is about gaining experience on the biggest stage in tennis. "Just sucking it in," as she says. And always finding peace in between.
