Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier missed a surprise at the start of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
The 23-year-old lost her first round duel with the Polish world number one Iga Swiatek 4: 6, 5: 7 despite a good performance. It was “a real test” for Swiatek, said national coach Barbara Rittner at Eurosport, and Niemeier “did it really well”.
As in the round of 16 of the US Open last September, the Dortmund player demanded everything from the Pole in the Rod Laver Arena. In the end, the greater experience and quality of the favorite prevailed. Basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki, who was a decent tennis player in his youth, also followed Niemeier’s first appearance in the main draw of the Australian Open in the stands.
