Anna-Lena Grönefeld is the only German starter at the WTA finals in Singapore. We spoke to her just before the launch.
Anna-Lena Grönefeld (32) is currently Germany’s most successful double player. She is ranked 20th, and in the Porsche Race to Singapore she is ranked 7th with her partner Kveta Peschke. In the singles, Grönefeld made it to 14th place in the world in 2006, and since 2011 she has been playing only doubles and mixed. In the doubles, Grönefeld won 16 WTA titles, in the Mixed, she even won two Grand Slam victories with Wimbledon 2009 and the French Open 2014.
In Singapore, Grönefeld/Peschke will meet the top seeded Martina Hingis/Chan Young-jan.
tennisnet: Mrs. Grönefeld, congratulations – you are qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time. Contrary to the individual players, there is no round-robin format, there is a quarter-finals against a top-8 duo. Good or bad?
Grönefeld: I don’t know any other way. There used to be a World Cup in Round-Robin format, but I didn’t see it. Clearly, the first match is going to be very difficult, you have to play well from the beginning.
tennisnet: Were you able to train on the main court? It’s supposed to be quite different from the training courses, from the light, from the pace. That’s what the single players say.
Grönefeld: Yes, we already had two good units. The course isn’t really fast, there are a lot of long rallies, just like in the singles. I like him.
tennisnet: How do you train as a double player: Do you only play cross, do you primarily practice cross volleys and specific double situations?
Grönefeld: Of course, you don’t play any single matches or points, there are many special double exercises. There are many cross-duels, because that’s what happens. What’s great fun: If you get shot quickly and train your reactions.
tennisnet: In addition to doubles, they are also active in mixed tennis and almost more successful there. You have reached seven Grand Slam semi-finals in doubles, won two Grand Slam titles in mixed, and played two finals. How did that happen? Especially since Mixed is only played at the majors.
Grönefeld: Hard to say… I always had very nice, very good partners with whom I got along well. In the Mixed it’s more open, everybody can beat anybody. Having won a Grand Slam tournament twice and played two finals was of course great.
tennisnet: How is it in the Mixed – are there any male opponents who are known to be on top of you? Do they know his people from Pappenheim?
Grönefeld: (laughs) Yes, they do. Not if they have a light ball, but otherwise they’ll pull through.
tennisnet: You finished your single career in 2011. Have you ever thought about a comeback?
Grönefeld: I’m still playing the Bundesliga in the summer, but I know why I quit the tour every time. The fun wasn’t there anymore. I feel comfortable as it is now. And I still enjoy doubles a lot.
tennisnet: You’ve been a big supporter in the Fed Cup for years – most recently Barbara Rittner had nominated a third single player instead of you. Have you talked to the new boss Jens Gerlach, as he’s planning?
Grönefeld: We had a first conversation and will meet again in the next few months. I think he’ll tell me how he sees and wants to tackle the whole thing. I like to play Fed Cup, so I am always ready.
tennisnet: Here in Singapore you play with Kveta Peschke, who is now 42 years old. Can you imagine playing for a similar length of time?
Grönefeld: I didn’t plan that. At first I want to play for another year, but then I have to see what happens next. I would like to have a family, which is not as easy for us as it is for the men who can still play at the same time…
tennisnet: You can get in again….
Grönefeld: I don’t really want that. Sure, you should never say never, but it’s not my plan. I’d like to be home by then.
tennisnet: Finally, a reader’s question from one of your biggest fans: If you’re allowed to choose – who would you like to play mixed or doubles with?
Grönefeld: With Roger Federer! He’d be a dream-mixed partner. In the women’s singles, I had the chance to play with Martina Navratilova. She was then 49 years old and still had the bite of wanting to be the best. It was incredible to witness.
The interview was conducted by Florian Goosmann in Singapore.