The usual approach to a tennis career is to start training at a young age (we’ve all read the stories), devote every spare minute to playing/thinking/talking tennis and hope that it pays off in the form of a top 10 ranking or a Grand Slam or two. For Andrea Petkovic, however, the usual way of doing things is, well, not really her way.
“I try to do new stuff ,” the tall (she’s 180 cm or 5’ 11”) says after a 6-3 6-0 casual-as-you-like first-up win over sixth seed Alexandra Dulgheru at the Brisbane International.
And while it would be simple to point to Petkovic’s video blog, Petkorazzi (watch it on YouTube), or her ambition to one day start her own political party, it’s more her approach to tennis that sets her apart from most on the tour.
Video: watch Brisbane International videos
As a 20 year old, Petkovic said: “Being ranked around 100 is only a waste of time. That’s not worth the effort in tennis.”
Strong words, but the Bosnian-born German right-hander has stayed true to them.
“Last year was some kind of test for me because I wasn’t really sure where I belong – if I was good enough to compete with the best players in the world and I think I had a good year and now I’m really looking forward to a career of five [or] six years, which I wasn’t really sure about last year.”
Petkovic finished 2008 ranked 315 in the world, 2009 inside the top 100 at 56 and by the time 2010 was done and dusted she was sitting at 32 in the world – her career high.
A fourth-round showing at the US Open last year, her best performance at a major to date, also helped to assure the now 23 year old that she is on the right career path.
Photos: latest photos from the Brisbane International
Wins over higher ranked players including Daniela Hantuchova, Ana Ivanovic, Nadia Petrova and Svetlana Kuznetsova have also helped keep Petkovic on the court and away from politics.
“I still have those aspirations, definitely. I’m still studying political science and I’m still having my goals there but now that I’m doing better in tennis I’m sort of pushing it more to the back.”
Part of Petkovic’s dedication to tennis has included hiring a new fitness coach – Argentine Juan Bernado Caberol, who she worked with during the off season in Germany. Also on the agenda was a trip to Portugal where she learned to surf
“I only stood for a couple of seconds,” she says with a smile.
With her holidays behind her, Petkovic’s focus is now squarely on 2011, but unlike most players she hasn’t set any goals for the new year. In fact, she says cheekily that her New Year’s resolution is “to spread more love to the world”.
But closer to the court and Petkovic says that she’s more inclined to “perfect some part of her game” than set ranking or tournament-specific goals.
“Sometimes when you try to rush for the points and for the money [and] for wins you just forget to improve and then you start losing and you don’t understand why, and [then] you lose confidence.
“So it’s kind of a vicious circle and I really want to avoid that so I always try to focus on my tennis and improve.”
After her impressive first-round display, Petkovic today plays former world No.4 Jelena Dokic in the second match of the day at Pat Rafter Arena. It looms as a tough match for both, but Petkovic insists that while she is on foreign soil, she feels at home in Brisbane where she has friends and family.
And, she says, if the match goes her way, we may just see the famed Petkodance. “If I win I will pull it out.”
Tickets are still available for Brisbane International 2011 from Ticketek.