Tatjana Maria first needed a squeeze to advance, Laura Siegemund the best tennis of her career. The German women are still in good shape at the Australian Open. With great fighting spirit, Maria and Siegemund survived their opening games in Melbourne and followed Tamara Korpatsch in round two.
The German men, however, made a false start on the Yarra River. A trio of Daniel Altmaier, Yannick Hanfmann and Maximilian Marterer failed in the first round. Hanfmann and Marterer largely had no chance in their defeats. Altmaier showed a strong fighting performance against the number 15 seeded Russian Karen Chatschanow, but after just over four hours he still had to lose 7:5, 3:6, 6:7 (5:7), 6:7 (3: 7) admit defeat.
However, things went better for Maria and Siegemund. In hot Melbourne, the two veterans had to push themselves to their physical limits in temperatures of 30 degrees. Maria (36) suddenly became dizzy in the second set against Colombian Camila Osorio and a doctor had to check her pulse and breathing.
Help through child food
Children’s nutrition also helped the German number one to regain its strength. “I really needed something to eat. The only thing that was there quickly was a squeeze that my brother had with him for his children,” said Maria after the game. And the high sugar snack helped. Maria took command again against Osorio in the third set and won the game after 2:52 hours 7:5, 6:7 (4:7), 6:4.
Then she leaned against the net, completely exhausted. “I wasn’t feeling well. But I’m feeling better now,” said Maria, who is now dealing with the Italian Jasmine Paolini.
Siegemund also stood on the court in the heat for around three hours and had to give everything she had to eliminate the number 17 seeded Russian Jekaterina Alexandrowa 6:2, 3:6, 7:6 (11:9). “I’m super proud that I won the game,” said the 35-year-old Swabian.
Siegemund started strong and took the first set without any major problems. After that she had difficulties with her serve and couldn’t even get her service through in the entire second set. The decision was made in the third set, where Siegemund initially trailed. But the world number 78 never gave up and was rewarded in the end for a great effort of will. Then she screamed her joy loudly and jumped into the air.
Siegemund with a good feeling
“I feel like I’m playing the best tennis of my career right now,” said Siegemund, who now faces Australian qualifier Storm Hunter. “Unfortunately I can feel in my body that I’ve already had a few years under my belt,” said the doubles specialist, who actually wanted to retire from singles last year.
But because things went so well and the start to the new season was promising, “I’m now planning the entire season with singles and doubles,” said Siegemund. The Olympic Games in Paris are set to be a highlight, where Siegemund would ideally like to play mixed doubles with Alexander Zverev. “We would be a really dangerous pairing. There’s definitely a lot of potential there,” said Siegemund.
However, Zverev has so far announced that he wants to play with Angelique Kerber in Paris. In Melbourne, the top German duo will only get involved in the action this Tuesday. Zverev will face Dominik Koepfer in the German duel in the night session, Kerber will face the American Danielle Collins in the early German morning.
