Strasbourg: An Interview with Andrea Petkovic

Coverage

2011

Internationaux de Strasbourg

Friday, 20 May 2011 18:08

Strasbourg: An Interview with Andrea Petkovic

Written by Tina van Eickels

After reaching the Final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg, second seed Andrea Petkovic took the time to answer a few questions for ProTennisNews.net:

PTN: How does it feel to be seeded in the Top 16 for a Grand Slam for the first time [Petkovic is the 15th seed in next week's French Open –Ed.]?

Andrea Petkovic [AP]: It's great, it's really great. Actually, Australia was the first time I was seeded at all. Last year, I wasn't seeded and I got some tough first rounds. But, nonetheless, I play Bojana Jovanoski in the First Round, which is not an easy draw actually, for being seeded Top 16. [Laughs] But anyway, still, it's good to avoid the Top 10 players in the first few rounds, just to get into the matches.

PTN: Going back on something you said yesterday. You said you've improved, but don't quite see yourself winning Grand Slams yet. Anything in particular you feel you need to improve to get there?

AP: I just think it's the experience, especially the experience of playing tournaments over two weeks. I mean, maybe it can happen, you never know, you know, but I am not sure if am quite there yet. I am not saying it's impossible for me, I believe I can do it one day, but I also believe that I have tons of things still to learn. Especially experience, that's not a thing you can really learn, but that you have to go through, get though a lot of stuff. So, I am not sure, things can always happen but to really be called "a Grand Slam contender," I think I am still far, far away from that.

PTN: So who are your favorites, then, going into Roland Garros?

AP: Well, I don't know how Kim [Clijsters –Ed.] is playing, because she obviously hasn't played in a while, so that's always tough. But, as I know her, she is quite incredible, it's always incredible how she comes back even from not playing a while.

For me, Victoria Azarenka is a big contender. I think she's been playing great in the last couple of weeks. And, of course, Caroline [Wozniacki -Ed.]. I think she can always beat the top players. Maria Sharapova, also. She showed her best tennis this year in Rome and, if she can keep her form, then definitely her. She also has the experience of winning Grand Slams. And you should never forget Schiavone. She is crazy and I think she can do something amazing, because she just has this big heart in her; this big, big fighting spirit. I love her and I would love her to do well again and I am sure she will.

PTN: Last question. You are very open, popular on Twitter, active on YouTube and you write a blog for the FAZ [one of the leading German newspapers –Ed.]. No chance for boredom on the tennis tour?

AP: [Laughs.] Well, you know, I really want to enjoy my life and I have difficulties doing something I don't enjoy, so everything I do, I just try to take the best out of it. I mean, when I sit down and I think, "Listen, Andrea, you want to do this for the next ten years?" If I just sit in my room alone and think about tennis all day, I am not going to do this for ten years, there is no chance. That's why, I think, I am trying to enjoy myself and to find the best things in tennis and there are so many wonderful things, and so many lovely people on the tennis tour, so I just try to enjoy every moment of it.