News : Tennis: This is behind the German failure in Wimbledon

One year after Angelique Kerber's glittering triumph, the German tennis pros in Wimbledon have experienced a tournament to forget. For the first time since 2015, none of the seven German women and seven German men made it to the round of 16 of the most significant and most public-looking tournament. Thirty years ago, both Steffi Graf and Boris Becker triumphed, and German tennis was booming. Tristesse now prevails - and the future prospects look bleak.

When this week starts the second week and still the only 15-year-old Cori Gauff from the USA involved, Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber have been diving for days and also the second best pros Julia Görges and Jan-Lennard Struff have as Last German hopefuls adopted.

"Clearly that's disappointing, with two top players hoping for more," said former Davis Cup captain Patrik Kühnen, who works as a sky expert at Wimbledon. The 53-year-old wants to know about bad times for German tennis but nothing: "This is a snapshot, which can change quickly again, it may look quite different at the US Open again."

But the events of the German view dreary lawn tournament should cause disillusionment at the German Tennis Federation. Women's boss Barbara Rittner, Fed Cup team boss Jens Gerlach and Davis Cup captain Michael Kohlmann were not due to other commitments to London traveled.

For nine German representatives was already in the first round end, only two had the chance to the round of the best 16. The three-time Grand Slam winner Kerber was possibly overwhelmed by her role as last year's winner. The Kielerin always celebrated her greatest successes when she practiced in understatement before the tournament. World Ranking Fifth Zverev was involved in a dispute with his manager Patricio Apey, the disturbing factors from outside crowded out the focus on tennis.

Kebrers performance must be worried about German tennis

Above all, the performance Kerbers must cause the tennis fans worries. The otherwise so strong German number one presented itself unusually lethargic in their defeat to the number 95 of the world Lauren Davis - almost listless. Without their pronounced fighter qualities, the playful abuses of last year's winner became even clearer.

In particular, the sometimes lax second serves invited Davis to a large number of direct points - with its own service Kerber was so permanently in distress. A problem that has dragged on through the career of the tennis ace ever since, but has always been compensated for by excellent defensive work - until now.

Now Kerber seems to have lost the desire for their own game. It does not help much if your own attacks regularly lack precision and power - just 13 Winner recorded the German at her second round-off. In comparison: your opponent gets their 45th

National coach Rittner predicts losing streak

The grass classic also brought an unexpected foretaste of the feared "dry spell" (ladies boss Rittner) to Kerber (31), Görges (30) or Andrea Petkovic (31), who recently in the ladies also dismal French Open as lost last German in the third round. Antonia Lottner was once considered one of the most promising German talents, now retired in qualifying. Carina Witthöft did not even start. Anna-Lena Friedsam is still fighting back after shoulder problems and lost in the first round.

It was almost a complete generation of players broken off, said the former Fed Cup team boss Rittner the "Rheinische Post". Many players are no longer willing to go over a certain point.

"It's just too good for our talents," said Rittner. But if you want to get into the top of the world, "then you must not let you drive everywhere from mum and dad and 'protect', but also have to take things into their own hands to take." Anything but rosy prospects for German tennis so.