Defeated French Open semi-finalist Andrea Petkovic admitted the forthcoming grasscourt season with its Wimbledon peak leaves her cold.
The 26-year-old German said she was in no mood to think about the brief grasscourt interlude shoehorned between the end of the Europan clay campaign and the start of the American hardcourt swing.
“Why did you have to remind me?,” said Petkovic after losing 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) to Romania’s Simona Halep in the French Open semi-finals, her first appearance in the last four of a major.
Three of the four Grand Slams — Australia, France and the US — have been kind to Petkovic as she has enjoyed runs to at least the quarter-finals of all of them.
But the courts of the All England Club in south-west London have represented nothing but disappointment with a third round in 2011 her best effort in three visits.
“I don’t want to comment on grass. Last year I was better on grass (she made the second round at Wimbledon). I mean, I feel so great on clay courts and I love the hard courts in the States.
“Grass isn’t my favourite. It will never be my favourite. But I learned a few things last year. I felt okay there. I played better, so I’m trying to be positive, you know, and take it with optimism.”
But she added ruefully: “Grass court season is coming, woohoo.”
Wimbledon, the third major of the season, gets under way on June 23.
