When the great Andre Agassi played tennis on grass for the first time in the 1980s, he was so unnerved after a few minutes that he avoided the legendary Wimbledon tournament for years.

That's how he tells it in his biography.

The balls no longer jumped off the ground, the game accelerated rapidly, and automatisms that had been trained over the years no longer worked.

The eight-time Grand Slam tournament winner didn't like all of that at all.

Pirmin Clossé

Sports editor.

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    When Mara Guth played real lawn tennis for the first time on Wednesday, she was by no means so frustrated that she gave up.

    But after ten minutes she too said slightly sarcastically to her trainer: “Well, that's going to be fun!” Tennis on grass is just special.

    Regardless of whether you are one of the best players in history or an aspiring tennis talent from Usingen in Hesse.

    "Didn't even have lawn shoes"

    Guth had actually played on the green underground before. Last year - the premiere of the women's tournament in Bad Homburg had just been postponed due to the pandemic - she competed in a double show at the opening event for the new Center Court. Among other things, she was on the field with the former Wimbledon winner Angelique Kerber and the former Australian Open finalist Rainer Schüttler. “The only problem was that I didn't even have lawn shoes,” she says, looking back with a smile.

    You don't have the opportunity to play tennis on a lush green too often. Especially not if you are still at the beginning of your own tennis career. This Sunday the new WTA tournament begins on the facility in Bad Homburg's spa gardens. Mara Guth is also there this time. It is the first time that she takes part in an event on the professional tour. She had initially received a wildcard from the organizer for qualification, but then even moved directly into the main field. Now there is a match against one of the many top international players who are at the start in Bad Homburg.

    That's why she doesn't put any pressure on herself.

    On her way to professional tennis, the 17-year-old is deliberately taking one step at a time.

    She definitely wants to do her Abitur next year at the sports boarding school in Mannheim.

    The decision to pursue a career as a competitive athlete matured over several years.

    Guth clearly has the goal of one day establishing himself on the professional tour.

    “There is still a lot to be done,” she says.

    "But that is definitely the way I want to go."

    "Hey, you belong here"

    The perspective is promising. Because Guth is one of the most promising German tennis talents in the women's field. A few weeks ago she was in the quarter-finals of the junior women’s competition at the French Open. In the world rankings of her age group, she then climbed 18 places to 22nd place. Because it was her second participation in the Grand Slam tournament in Paris, she was simply not so overwhelmed by the many impressions, she reports. "This time I really had the feeling, 'Hey, you belong here, you can play here.'"

    Guth speaks with impressive clarity and maturity about her experiences, goals and plans. “I am a very solid player, but so far I have found it difficult to take the initiative myself.” For this reason, she decided to hire a new coach in the form of Michael Geserer from Regensburg. The 51-year-old has already led several players to the top of the world. Julia Görges, for example, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals with him and was number nine in the world rankings. Or last year the American Jennifer Brady, who was in the semifinals of the US Open.

    “I just want to try something new,” says Guth. “I need new input.” It's an exciting time. Due to the change of coach, a move to Regensburg is pending. She is also in the Bundesliga squad of the TC Bad Vilbel, wants to play Hessenliga with the U 18 of her home club Usinger THC and also compete in international tournaments. "Somehow everything is changing in my life right now," she says. "I'm curious how it will be."

    Guth is also excited about her premiere in the main draw of the WTA tournament in Bad Homburg. And that, although the backdrop in the stands will not have quite as many familiar faces in store for them as originally hoped. Many of her friends, fans and family members had bought tickets, but because of the pandemic, the number of viewers had to be drastically limited by the organizer. Only 600 are allowed on the facility per day. "My grandma is a little pissed off because she really wanted to see me play," says Guth with a laugh. Lawn tennis is something special. Also for the audience.