Barbara Rittner, Head of Womens Tennis at DTB, talks in the tennisnet interview about the new Kerber coach Rainer Schüttler, wonderful Wimbledon moments, the upcoming 2019 season – and a big worry.
By Ulrike Weinrich
Barbara Rittner took her time on this cloudy day in Mannheim. Over a cup of coffee, the 45-year-old reviews the past season once again and dares a look towards 2019. Her little dog Rone accepts that her mistress has a lot to tell after such a year – and meanwhile patiently plays with a small rubber ball.
tennisnet: “As is well known, topicality beats everything. Therefore, right at the beginning the question: “Is Rainer Schüttler the right coach for Angelique Kerber?”
Barbara Rittner: “That fits. For astrological reasons alone: Angie is Capricorn, Rainer is Taurus. No, seriously, I think Rainer brings everything. He has gained experience as a player and as a coach. Besides, he’s a guy you like to spend time with, who has a lot to tell. Apart from his human qualities, I also think it is very important that Rainer is independent. Both can approach the matter with their cards wide open.
tennisnet: “What do you think the goal of both is?”
Barbara Rittner: “You have certainly formulated a common goal. In Angie’s case, it’s very important that she feels comfortable and that the surroundings are right. Rainer’s the perfect man, I think. Both have certain character traits that are similar. Rainer knows what it’s like to sometimes stand in your own way, I know that too, Angie knows that too. And if you have a certain understanding for this, because you yourself are knitted in a similar way, it becomes easier to deal with it accordingly – especially in crisis situations. I trust Rainer to have great serenity. “Especially when it gets critical, when Angie struggles.”
tennisnet: “How will Schüttler approach his new task?”
Barbara Rittner: “Angie has nothing more to prove. I think Rainer found out in the conversation with her that she was still burning. She doesn’t want to let her career end, Angie wants to keep going full throttle. This is certainly one of the prerequisites that Rainer needs. Both are hard workers with a lot of discipline, who want to achieve the set goals together. I’m really looking forward to this new duo. A shaker on the ladies’ tour, great! For Rainer, too, it will certainly be an interesting episode in his working life.”
tennisnet: “Is it a problem that he has never trained a woman before? “Barbara Rittner: “No. I think Rainer has enough life experience to know that it will certainly be different in certain moments. But with Joschi Thron (Kerbers Manager/Anmerkg. d. Red.) he has someone at his side who knows Angie well and can mediate. I am also at Rainer’s disposal at any time. But they’ll do fine at Team Angie.”
tennisnet: “Which challenges await Kerber in 2019 – but also Julia Görges, Andrea Petkovic & Co.?
Barbara Rittner: “For Angie, the main thing will be to make the tournament calendar meaningful and find a good balance. With important recovery phases, so that she brings her best tennis to the court with the greatest motivation and passion at the Grand Slams. You don’t have to burn yourself out, but still have enough matches to constantly feel good. But of course, she will soon be 31 years old, the body doesn’t take everything so well anymore. If there’s a pinch, she has to say, ‘Okay, I’ll take myself out so I can go full throttle again.'”
tennisnet: “And with the other players?”
Barbara Rittner: “Even with a Görges or Petkovic the goal is to play well in the Grand Slams. Of course, it’s also about getting far in smaller tournaments. Because that is the necessary preparation, there one collects the self-confidence for the majors – day by day. The focus will be on Getting the best out of the big stage. That includes the four Grand Slam events, the Fed Cup and the German tournaments.”
tennisnet: “What would be more important for Kerber: To win the French Open for the first time and complete their career Grand Slam – or to get the Wimbledon bowl for the second time?
Barbara Rittner: “I think if you asked Angie, she wouldn’t care. But I think she might win Wimbledon for the second time. It’s difficult to triumph in Paris because of the way they play, but it’s not impossible. Especially at the French Open it depends on the weather conditions. When the sun shines for two weeks in Paris and the courts are fast, then Angie can also accommodate. If, on the other hand, it’s raining for three weeks beforehand, there are first rounds that can be difficult for the top players.”
tennisnet: “Kerber, Görges and Petkovic are now over 30 years old. But as you know, 30 is the new 20…”
Barbara Rittner: “Physically they are fully in the juice. I myself have played professional tennis for 15 years, albeit not at this very highest level. But I know how to burn out when it comes to motivation. I quit when I was 31. I therefore take my hat off to this generation and find one thing in particular quite admirable about a Kerber, about a Görges: They are still burning, you can feel that. You really want to keep going full throttle.”
tennisnet: “When is the best tennis age?”
Barbara Rittner: “I believe that from mid-twenties to mid-thirties you can play your best tennis if your body is involved and you manage mentally to keep yourself fresh. At the end of your career you will be calmer and more relaxed with the experience you have gained. I also played the better games in my old age. I’m happy that the girls still have high goals and are so motivated.”
tennisnet: “Do you expect the strongest German line-up in the Fed Cup first-round duel against Belarus in February?”
Barbara Rittner: “Team manager Jens Gerlach is in charge of the talks. He has been instructed to sound this out by mid-December. I hope that everyone will give me a basic assessment of how important the Fed Cup is for them. One statement we could get from the players by then would be: ‘If everything goes normally, I’m available’ – or not. That’s all we can get at this time.”
tennisnet: “When you look back on 2018: How satisfied are you? “Barbara Rittner: “If you have a Wimbledon winner in your ranks as Head of Womens Tennis, then it can only have been a good season. I will never forget the days of London, it was a great experience, I was allowed to comment the final live on TV. Of course a Jule Görges played a great season. I also think it’s very nice to see how strong and constant Andrea Petkovic has been since Paris and has shown world class tennis. I was also very happy that at the end of the season a Sabine Lisicki showed that she could have a say.”
tennisnet: “You still don’t seem completely satisfied…”
Barbara Rittner: “What was a bit overshadowed: In the Fed Cup we took advantage of a chance we didn’t have in the first round (3:2 victory in Belarus/Anmerkg. d. Red.). But in the semi-finals we sold ourselves at home to the Czech Republic 1:4 below value.”
tennisnet: “The so-called golden generation will no longer play forever. How confident are you when it comes to the time after?”
Barbara Rittner: “What worries me is the fact that the gap behind the generation around Kerber, Görges & Co. is just getting bigger instead of smaller. Carina Witthöft, for example, was 51st in the world rankings at the end of last year and we hoped that she would be 30th or 40th in November 2018 – but Carina is 172th. Annika Beck has unfortunately stopped playing professional tennis. Anna-Lena Friedsam only returns after two shoulder surgeries. And Antonia Lottner hasn’t made it into the top 100 yet either.”