PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI
German #1 Andrea Petkovic in her post-match press conference following her victory over Petra Kvitova Pete Ziebron Images
Last week, Andrea Petkovic became the 6th German woman to crack the WTA Top Ten and first since October 2000. The future looks bright for Petko and she shared some insights into her tennis idols, fellow Fed Cup teammates and her Serbian heritage following her 3 victories this week in Cincinnati at the Western & Southern Open.
Yesterday I asked Petkovic about her recent success as well as the players she admired:
"Of course Steffi because she was always somebody who was there and was such a great role model, off the court more than on the court actually. But I have to say one of my big idols was always Serena when I was growing up, because I felt like she revolutionized tennis somehow. She came on court and she had this great energy and this great vibe and she just really brought rock and roll to tennis.
I really like that, and I loved watching her play all the time. It's a little strange now being with her at the same tournaments, so I have to control my idolizing. It's cool. It's a big honor for me being able to play her maybe someday again."
Petko also appreciates the fact that her Fed Cup teammates Julia Goerges and Sabine Lisicki are also enjoying recent success on the WTA Tour:
"The thing is it's not only about me. It's about the other two girls as well who are playing so well. That brings our tennis so much more into focus. Because before we always had someone who was playing well, but it's normal that you have highs and lows. There was nobody else backing it up.
Now we have three girls who are really backing it up. So when I have a bad phases, Julia goes there and wins Stuttgart; when she doesn't feel so well, Sabine goes there and plays semis in Wimbledon. That makes it like it has more foundation now, and it's a good feeling for us girls in Germany."
Despite the fact that Petkovic is seeded #9 in Cincinnati, her 3rd round match yesterday against Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova was played on Court 9, the 4th largest court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The match was not televised and also did not feature Hawkeye technology. The relegation to a smaller court did not phase Petko in the slightest as she topped Kvitova 6-3 6-3. Today, Petko will play Nadia Petrova of Russia.
Andrea Petkovic in early round action in Cincinnati Pete Ziebron Images
Petkovic was born in Bosnia but moved to Germany when she was 6 months old. As a result, she elaborated on her heritage:
"I always say I'm German but I have a Serbian heart. You know, because the emotions that I live and that I go through and all my passion for the sport, I feel like it's more Serbian. Also the negative emotions that come through sometimes that I cannot control, I feel like they are more Serbian.
But the way I live, the way I structure my life, the way I think not only in like about society, about politics, it's more German. I feel like really I've been educated really quite German."
So it's always a tough part. But there is a Serbian soul in me, I guess."
Earlier this year, Petkovic won her 2nd career title in Strasbourg to go along with her maiden title in 2009 in Bad Gastein.
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