"Even as 12-year-olds, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Carlos Alcaraz & Novak Djokovic knew they belong at the top; I wasn't that" - Andrea Petkovic
Andrea Petkovic has shed light on a key difference between herself and the likes of Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. The German admitted that, unlike the aforementioned four players who were self-assured from the moment they stepped on court, she struggled with her own confidence.
Petkovic made a major career breakthrough at the 2011 Australian Open, pulling off a stunning upset over Sharapova in the fourth round to reach the quarterfinals of a Major for the first time in her career. She then went on to make the semifinals of the French Open and the quarterfinals of the US Open.
During a recent appearance on The AO Show podcast, the German reflected on how her campaign at the Melbourne Slam completely changed the trajectory of her career.
"I love being at the Australian Open because all those images come back. I think what I remember most [is] it really did change the trajectory of my career – and I'm not exaggerating when I say that," Petkovic said.
Andrea Petkovic explained that her Australian Open breakthrough gave her the confidence she previously lacked, something that Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic never struggled with.
The former World No. 9 also admitted that while those players were certain of their place at the top even as 12-year-olds, she hadn't possessed the same belief in her abilities. However, Petkovic emphasized that beating Sharapova at the Melbourne Slam allowed her to break past that mental barrier.
"The reason why I say that is, there are players who have confidence the moment they come on court, like Serena Williams, like Maria Sharapova, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic. Even as 12-year-olds, they always knew they belong at the top of the game. I wasn't like that. I always need to gain the confidence before I could go on to do great things," she said.
"And Australian Open was a big key moment for me, because it added another block of confidence for me, knowing that I can beat the likes of Maria Sharapova on a big stage in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena in a night-session setting, and reach the quarterfinals of a major tournament for the first time," she added.
"I also modeled myself after these great women" - Andrea Petkovic on competing alongside Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova
During the same podcast, Andrea Petkovic emphasized how privileged she felt to compete alongside the greats of women's tennis, like Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Li Na, and Garbine Muguruza, among others.
"It was such a pleasure and honour really, to play alongside these women, and I take a lot from having been able to be in the same locker rooms, on the same courts, as the best women in the world, that have ever done this," Petkovic said.
The German also disclosed that she paid close attention to how the likes of Williams and Sharapova trained and managed their diet, modeling herself after their habits.
"I would watch all these girls and all these women do what they do, and how they achieved it, and how they trained, how they ate. That was always something that I gained a lot of strength from and something that I also modelled myself after these great women, and that really made me stronger as a personality," she added.
Andrea Petkovic locked horns with Serena Williams five times during her career, with the American triumphing in each of those encounters. However, the German managed to secure one win in her four matches against Maria Sharapova.