WTA: Exclusive: Siegemund with AC/DC in the direction of comeback

Laura Siegemund works with great enthusiasm on her comeback. The psychologist with the golden hand has used her abstinence from the daily tour routine but also for personal development in different areas. tennisnet accompanied Siegemund at work in the gym.

The music is currently playing in Down under. Laura Siegemund, however, is currently setting herself the rhythm. AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” sounds in the background – and the 29-year-old is tampering with the high-tech leg press at the huge gym of the Olympic base in Stuttgart. A computer records all strength values, a physio monitors the “torture bench” and every movement of it:”I’m not yet where I want to go, but on a very good path,”says Siegemund in the tennisnet conversation and relaxes over a towel. I’m not such a fan of lists, I’d rather listen to my body feeling,”admits the Swabian. Knowing full well that she will have to make many compromises in the fight for the comeback after her cruciate ligament rupture in May 2017.

But Siegemund radiates her very own optimism even in the labyrinth between the grey devices:”I am convinced that you can also take a lot of positive things with you from this time,” she explains,”I wanted to learn consciously in the past few months and I believe that this phase has personally brought me a lot of positive things” But anyone who knows the extroverted woman with the golden hand knows how much she likes to play on the court.

The Australian Open (from 15. Of course, I’m trying to get fit as soon as possible, but it should be sustainable,”emphasizes the winner of the 2017 Porsche Grand Prix, which is currently in 69th place in the WTA ranking.

The day X of her comeback will presumably take place at a smaller tournament – simply to collect match practice in peace and not just under the public’s burning glass,”This first match will be something special. It was great when I ran on the treadmill with full weight for the first time,” she says,”and in the mirror it looked as if nothing had happened.”

Her psychology studies help Siegemund in the difficult phase. But the curly head also knows that there are worlds between theory and implementation:”That’s why a psychologist won’t automatically be a happier person.” Of course, many people think you have to be able to do what you’ve studied.”That’s nonsense,”says the expert, waving off:”The implementation has to be trained and also come from the heart”.

Siegemund, who made her big breakthrough in 2016 as a late bloomer, is not one who is only defined by her successes in tennis. It therefore comes as no surprise that the former number 27 in the world has been able to appreciate its unusual rhythm over the past few months:”The daily tour routine is currently very far away. And I enjoy having regularity in my daily routine. You can plan well and also incorporate private aspects. Siegemund used the time and gave lectures at companies, among other things. Many people see the situations we as professional athletes are exposed to every day in the competition as extreme cases. This is not so common in normal working life. That’s why people take it from us when we talk about it.”

For the power player it was also a personal test. It was about getting a taste of life after the tennis career. It was really exciting. If I can pick up people and inspire them, it’s cool,”says Siegemund. A nice waiter in the club restaurant of the VfB Stuttgart will bring you back to the present by return post. When he serves her a salad with scampi after finishing her gym work, he says bluntly:”If you win Wimbledon, then everything is fine” Siegemund laughs out loud and remains realistic:”Step-by-Step, that’s the motto.