Schnyder praises top talent Naef: ‘She has become calmer’

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The rain thwarts Wimbledon on Tuesday. Roger Federer has barely had his big show on Center Court (with the roof already closed) when the sky opens its floodgates. Nothing works for hours. The Swiss matches with Viktorija Golubic, Marc-Andrea Hüsler and Dominic Stricker are canceled mid-afternoon. Then comes the message that Naef can no longer finish her duel with the Russian Anastasia Potapova – the score is 3: 6, 3: 3.

Great, Naef’s game is one of a total of 71 (!) that couldn’t be finished or even started on Tuesday due to rain.

“You Must Keep Calm”

Naef is considered the greatest young talent among Swiss women. The 18-year-old from Schwyz has fought his way from 874th to 165th place in the world ranking in just eight months. At Wimbledon, she qualified straight away on her very first attempt.

Now she is nearing the end of her first adventure in London. Or not? Naef has a reputation for never giving up and being able to compete time after time – the young woman from Feusisberg SZ has already proven that at WTA level.

“She has calmed down,” says former number 7 in the world Patty Schnyder (44), who now comments on Wimbledon matches as an expert. “You have to be able to keep a cool head on the women’s tour — that’s what she does pretty well,” says Schnyder, who also testifies to Naef’s great progress in service. And: “She has very good approaches, hits the balls cleanly, plays precisely. You can definitely tell by her rhythmic movements, her technique and her anticipation that she is part of the Melanie Molitor school.”

Naef trained with Martina Hingis’ mother in Wollerau SZ for years before breaking away from her in 2019. Now she trains at Swiss Tennis with Michael Lammer and her mother Sandra. Fedcup captain Heinz Günthardt is also one of her sponsors. And like Schnyder, he thinks highly of Naef.

Source : Blick