Alison van Uytvanck sees opportunities at Wimbledon with new courage and new love: ‘If you have confidence, you can compete with the best players’ | Tennis

Barely two defeats in fourteen matches on grass have resulted in 28-year-old Alison van Uytvanck winning two WTA 125 titles in recent weeks (Sorbiton and Gaeba). “It’s reached a really high level,” Van Uytvanck said. “I defeated Elise (Mertens, editor) at Rosmalen with good tennis and played 7-6 in the third round against the world number six (Sapalenka). If you have confidence, you can go with the best players. That’s just how things are.”

So the grass-loving Grimbergse shouldn’t be afraid of Emma Raducanu. The British kid – who suddenly won the USOpen last year – is close to the top 10 but had to retire on her first turf tournament in Nottingham with a sprain on her side and hasn’t played since (also canceled training yesterday)..” After Bad Homburg I felt a little tired ’, our compatriot evaluated her chances. “This is definitely not an easy draw. I made it to the eighth finals here last year. But I am looking forward to it and hopefully I can show my level in the last few weeks.”

Four years ago, the Brabant woman herself reached the fourth round at Wimbledon after managing to eliminate defending champion Garbine Muguruza, among others. Such running is now possible again? “I have a lot of turf in my legs and that will definitely help me,” Van Uytvanck said. “It’s there, isn’t it. The level is there and I’m enjoying it. It’s very important to me: when I can enjoy myself, I usually play my best tennis.”

Van Uytvanck is also enjoying her new friend, Emilie. The estrangement with Greet Minnen is finally behind her. “We’ll talk again,” sighed Van Uytvanck, who shares her with her former coach partner Anne Davies. “But at first it was very difficult. We have now brought in a sparring partner (Greek Eleni Kordolaimi, editor) because Ann cannot constantly split in two. Professionally I get along with Greet again. She and I have a new girlfriend… This is life. , is not it “.

Having tennis is going in the right direction again. “I’m not very interested in goals,” Van Uytvanck admitted. “I’m trying to get my position on the right track. In the long run, that should translate into more wins and my ranking up. It would be good to stick around the top 30. Breaking my highest ranking (WTA 37), that’s always a goal. But we’ll start with Wimbledon.” Or not “.