Anke Huber feels Sabine Lisicki and Angelique Kerber have a good chance of reaching the quarters: “There’s a surprise a day in Wimbledon”
Sabine Lisicki against Maria Sharapova and Angelique Kerber against Kim Clijsters – the Porsche Team Germany players have a tough job on their hands in the round of the last 16 in Wimbledon. But Anke Huber is confident they are both in with a good chance of winning through to the last eight at the world’s most famous tennis tournament on Monday. “They’ve both definitely got the class,” said the former top 10 player and currently the Operating Tournament Director at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. “A tournament like Wimbledon is a law unto itself. There’s a surprise a day.”
To enter the second week at the All England Championships is a big success in itself and something quite special. “When play begins again after the day off on Sunday, then it’s like a new start. It’s a feeling players don’t experience at any of the other Grand Slams,” said Anke Huber. Whilst Angelique Kerber has made it to the second week of Wimbledon for the very first time, Sabine Lisicki last year sensationally went all the way to the semifinals where she was beaten by Maria Sharapova. No wonder therefore that she has a quite special relationship with Wimbledon. “The tournament is amazingly motivating. You just have to play well here,” said 22-year-old after a hard-fought three set 7-5, 1-6, 6-2 in the third round match against the American Sloane Stephens. “I love playing on grass and the fans get behind me so much. Wimbledon is my favourite tournament.” The match against Maria Sharapova, the French Open champion and the world No. 1, won’t be giving her any sleepless nights. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Maria but I’m not afraid when I go out on court,” said Sabine Lisicki, who is looking forward to facing the winner of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. “The encounters with Maria are always exciting. I love these big matches.”
Even more convincing than Sabine Lisicki has been the way Angelique Kerber has advanced to the last 16. “Angie is in a form whereby she is very difficult to beat,” said Barbara Rittner, the national coach and captain of Porsche Team Deutschland, after the 24-year-old’s 6-2, 6-3 win over the American Christina McHale. It was already the 43rd match she has won this year. The German No. 1 is therefore still the players with the most wins on the 2012 WTA Tour. She will meet the Belgian Kim Clijsters, the former world No.1 and four-time Grand Slam winner, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2003 and 2006.
Anke Huber believes the players belonging to the Porsche Team German have difficult but in no way impossible tasks ahead of them. “Angie is in with the best chance for sure,” she said. “Kim hasn’t yet returned to top form after her injury. She naturally has a big name and it’s completely normal that one has a certain amount of respect when one goes out onto court. Should Angie lose that respect quickly and find her game, then she can definitely win.” And Sabine Lisicki? “She has to perform at her best and above all she has to be aggressive – then she’ll have a chance.”
Julia Görges just missed out on reaching the last 16 on Saturday. The 23-year-old player belonging to Porsche Team Germany lost after an impressive battling display against the former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.
