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German tennis player Laura Siegemund says playing at home in Stuttgart is a mix of having the home support as well as the tension of performing in front of home fans. Speaking to the Tennisnet website, Siegemund says the first thing she thinks when it comes to Stuttgart event is the arena itself.
"The Porsche Arena, in other words the place when you arrive. When it gets dark, the smoke rises, the lights come on. And the voice sounds: "Please greet ..." That's just cool. And I see game scenes in front of me. Funnily not even from my victory in 2017, more recent ones, like from my opening match 2019 against Lesia Tsurenko.
It was a dream match. From my point of view, I have these scenes on the square in front of me. And these emotions arise that always affect me at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. This joy because everyone is there who would otherwise not be able to watch live: my parents, friends and acquaintances.
And the audience behind me. Everything mixed with a portion of expectation. And also the pressure that you want to do it particularly well." The 32 year old Siegemund is currently ranked No. 65 in the world rankings and says she knows she can be Top 50 level if she is fit and healthy.
"I know that if I'm fit, if I'm healthy, if the match practice is correct and I've experienced certain situations - then I'm a top 50 player. That does not mean that I am always in the top 50, currently not either. But I know: I have this level.
Certain factors must be right and certain opportunities must arise. If you draw a top ten player every time in a big tournament in round two, it will be difficult. But the knowledge of my strength is now in me. I didn't know that at the time." The German, who has been as high as No.
27 in the rankings, is currently in Florida during the lockdown. "I am currently in the USA, I have good friends in Florida. Even coaches that I've met over the years. I played the smaller tournament there before the Indian Wells cancellation.
Then we decided to stay. The tennis clubs have all closed, but I can train with my friends on a court in the garden. I work out fully. Not at the limit - when the weather is bad, I don't stand by the window and hope that it stops raining for two hours (laughs) .
But then I just go to the gym. But I have a good intensity. One that I can keep going for a long time. The nice thing is: At the moment you can train a bit more freely, sometimes have a less result-oriented fun session, which otherwise simply doesn't work for reasons of efficiency. I really enjoy that."