Niemeier: 'I found the joy again'

But a sophomore slump grounded the German in 2023, and she managed just a single win at the majors as pressure and expectations sapped her confidence. 

“The last year was pretty tough after having a pretty good first year on tour, playing quarters at Wimbledon and last 16 at the US Open,” Niemeier told rolandgarros.com after solidifying her place in the main draw with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Dalma Galfi of Hungary on Court No.12.

“It was just tough last year to have joy on the court, to enjoy playing tennis and to love the game again.” 

A drop and a rise

Niemeier won just nine of 28 matches on tour last year and dropped over 100 spots in the rankings from a peak at No.61 (in November of 2022) to a year-end 2023 ranking of 162. 

But things started to improve when she hired renowned German coach Michael Geserer last November, and went through a rigorous six-week off-season: now she’s back inside the top 100 and aiming higher. 

“It was great timing,” Niemeier said of teaming up with Geserer, who has also coached Julia Goerges, Jennifer Brady and Petra Martic. “We started working in November, right before the pre-season so we had a lot of time, five or six weeks at home, practicing – it was perfect for us to start the teamwork for everything. 

“We had a great off-season and I think we can see it on the court that I’m playing well. I found my game again, I know how I want to play, and what I want to do on court.” 

The joy is back 

More than anything, Geserer has helped Niemeier rediscover her love for the sport. 

Her joyful celebration after locking up victory over Galfi on Wednesday afternoon in Paris was the end-product of months of hard work, and she wasn’t about to keep it inside. 

“I found the joy again of playing tennis,” she said. “I think you can see it on the court, I’m really trying to smile a lot and to just play, not thinking about results and everything – that’s what I’m trying to do.” 

What is it that Geserer has done to help Niemeier click her game back into place?  

“He’s just really realistic, I would say,” she said. “Realistic and optimistic. I think that sums it up pretty well. You win, you lose, but you can wake up the next day again – that’s something you have to learn.” 

Now that she’s qualified, Niemeier is hoping she can parlay the positive vibes into her first main draw victory in Paris. She fell to former runner-up Sloane Stephens after qualifying in 2022 (5-7, 6-4, 6-2), then was knocked out by Daria Kasatkina in 2023 (6-3, 6-4).

“I'm happy with the match today, and glad that I could qualify,” she said. “It’s always special to play here in Paris and it would be great to get my first win. 

“I’m just trying to enjoy everything that I’m doing now, on and off the court, and it’s really working well, just trying to live in the moment.” 

Sonmez reaches maiden major main draw

It was a massive day for Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez (pictured above), who completed her successful run through qualifying with a 7-6(5), 6-3 win over Croatia's Jana Fett on Court No.6.

157th-ranked Sonmez took out 12th-seeded Aliaksandra Sasnovich and 21st-seeded Fett to reach her maiden Grand Slam main draw.

France's Leolia Jeanjean, Argentina's Julia Riera, Japan's Moyuka Uchijima and Spain's Irene Burillo Escorihuela also powered into the main draw early on Thursday.

Riera and Escorihuela are also making their Grand Slam main draw debut.