There has been much talk over the last year or two about the rise of German tennis, and this week that conversation is likely to come to the forefront once again, as not only has another player from Germany broken into the Top 20, but now there are four Germans in the Top 20 for the first time since July 17, 1988.
On the new February 20, 2012 rankings there are four Germans in the Top 20, with the Top 20 debut coming from recent Paris champion Angelique Kerber:
No.10 Andrea Petkovic
No.13 Sabine Lisicki
No.19 Julia Goerges
No.20 Angelique Kerber (Top 20 debut)
The last time there were four Germans in the Top 20 was July 17, 1988:
No.1 Steffi Graf
No.10 Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
No.15 Sylvia Hanika
No.19 Bettina Bunge
To put into perspective how long ago that was... Petkovic was 10 months old, Kerber was six months old, and Goerges and Lisicki weren't even born yet.
Kerber in particular has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the rankings over the last six months. Not even in the Top 100 last August, semifinals at Dallas and the US Open that month pushed her into the Top 40, and she has reached the semis or better another four times since, including winning her first WTA title in Paris.
"I feel really good about that," Kerber said of her recent success. "I know now I can play with the top players and I believe in myself more than I did half a year ago. I think that's the biggest difference for me and for my game right now."
Before all of Kerber's momentum began last summer, and while all eyes were on the fast rises of Petkovic, Goerges and Lisicki, the leader of the movement - Petkovic - was reminding everyone not to overlook Kerber, saying she would be Top 30 within a month. Not too long after that, Kerber broke out in New York.
"It was very nice of her to say that," Kerber said. "I had been practicing with Andrea before the US Open and I think she saw I was playing very well and prepared very well. We actually practice together a lot and are close friends, so I hope she will come back from her back injury soon, I hope in a few weeks."
Petkovic has also said Kerber is her toughest opponent on tour, though she may have started to chip away at Kerber's head-to-head lead - check it out.
