Ella Seidel at the Australian Open
German tennis talent causes a big surprise
January 12, 2024, 9:28 a.m
So far, Ella Seidel is unknown in German tennis. But that could now change: The 18-year-old from Hamburg surprisingly qualified for the Australian Open. However, the most difficult task awaits in the first round.
The German tennis talent Ella Seidel has reached the main round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time – and is facing a very difficult challenge. After her successful qualifying final at the Australian Open in Melbourne, the 18-year-old from Hamburg will face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus in the first round.
Seidel won convincingly 6-0, 6-4 against the American Hailey Baptiste and caused a positive surprise even before the start of the first major tournament of the year (from Sunday). But she is now a complete outsider against Sabalenka, second in the world rankings.
“I would have preferred a different draw than this hammer mega-chunk,” said national coach Barbara Rittner, the 50-year-old looks after Seidel in Australia: “But it will certainly be a great experience for Ella, she is happy.” Seidel will play in the night session on Sunday at Rod Laver Arena, Center Court at Melbourne Park.
On her way to the main round, Seidel, number 172 in the world, also eliminated the American Elizabeth Mandlik, who was 56 positions higher in the world rankings. Eva Lys, on the other hand, narrowly missed qualifying for the tournament. The Hamburger lost to the French Leolia Jeanjean 6:2, 6:7 (4:7), 3:6 and missed a match point in the second set.
Like Seidel dem “Hamburger Abendblatt” reported last October that qualifying for the Australian Open was her big goal. “I’m very ambitious, but also very disciplined when it comes to tennis. I want to use the time well and train as hard as possible,” she said. In 2022 she became German indoor tennis champion.
Seidel narrowly missed the surprise in the junior women’s team at the French Open last year. She won the first set against Alina Korneyeva, who was in third place at the time, but still lost the match 6:3, 6:7 (4) and 5:7. The Russian later won the tournament. In the summer of 2023, Andrea Petković said about tennis talent Noma Noha Akugue and Seidel that they would “definitely help shape the future of tennis.” With Seidel’s qualification, a total of eleven German players will take part in the first major of the year.