Coach Bohli thinks she is capable of great things: “Waltert’s potential is huge”

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Simona Waltert (22) has landed back on earth after her flight from Paris. The qualifier from Graubünden is abandoned in the second round of the French Open. The number 128 in the world clearly loses 2: 6, 3: 6 to Elisabetta Cocciaretto (WTA 44), who is the same age but clearly better classified. Still, she can leave Roland Garros with her head held high. She made it to the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time and promptly advanced to the second round. As the only Swiss this year.

“I can be proud of myself,” she says after her out, despite anger at “many missed opportunities” and “numerous mistakes”. Waltert showed what she is capable of in Paris – even though Cocciaretto was ultimately still a size too big and the Chur woman must admit that her opponent “had an answer ready for everything”.

“There is no limit with her”

Your coach Stéphane Bohli (39) attributes this to the lack of experience at this level. He says: “She has proven she belongs here. But as far as I’m concerned, a mix of playful freedom, self-confidence, consistency and concentration is still missing. » All this will become more and more natural over time as Waltert, who has long stood on the threshold between ITF and WTA tournaments, has established himself at the top.

Apart from a small break, Bohli has been working with the Swiss talent for four and a half years. The training base is located on the French Mediterranean coast in Cannes. He says with great conviction: «Simona’s potential is enormous. There is no limit with her.”

Three or four kilos more than the target

But the Vaud native, once number 113 on the ATP ranking, is making further progress with the “massive work” that Waltert still has to do. The playful development is one thing. The other is the physical component. During the corona pandemic, the 1.74 meter tall athlete has already invested heavily in her physique. Still, Bohli thinks there is more to it: “It needs to be even more robust. Three or four kilos more would certainly do her good.” Waltert himself shares this opinion and that is why the focus should be “even more” on nutrition in the future.

Waltert says she appreciates Bohli’s honesty, his intuition and his direct demeanor: “He knows what he’s doing. I trust him.” When asked about her coach’s sharp line that she has “massive potential,” she says with a laugh, “That’s nice.”

But Waltert also knows that she is not allowed anything on the big stage on which she has now danced. In Wimbledon she will again have to make the difficult way through qualifying. She is now climbing towards the top 100 in the WTA ranking, but the main draw for the third Grand Slam tournament of the year has already taken place.

Still, she’s ready for London. Not only because she has just proven it in the sport. On her mobile phone case is the subject: Wimbledon.

Source : Blick