The new life of Karin Knapp

On May 13, 2015, she lost to world number four and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in an unforgettable night session, 6-7 in the third set, after leading 5-2 in the final set. "I didn't sleep much the night after," Knapp recalls the match well. "But the following week, I went to Nuremberg and won the WTA tournament."

In Rome, the now 37-year-old from Luttach defeated Roberta Vinci a year earlier and announced her retirement from competitive sports three years later. Dolomites A few tears were shed during the farewell interview. Her knee was no longer working. Knapp's career was repeatedly held back by her body; otherwise, she would surely have made it higher than 33rd place.

Karin Knapp was ranked in the top 50 of the world rankings for a long time. © AFP / PATRICK KOVARIK

She is by far South Tyrol's best tennis player of all time. In 2017, she married her coach Francesco Piccari. Her daughter Flavia is six years old and in the first grade of elementary school in Anzio, 80 kilometers south of Rome. Karin has found her second home there.

Mother, coach and television commentator She now speaks perfect Italian. The Roman dialect is unmistakable. She only speaks "Telderisch" when she visits her family back home. But that happens often. "I was home for Christmas. When I'm in the Ahrntal Valley in the winter, I go skiing. Flavia loves skiing, too." She recently celebrated her mother Marianne's 70th birthday with the family and attended her niece's First Communion in South Tyrol.

Tennis has never left her. Her husband coaches Lucia Bronzetti, currently Italy's number two and the world's 58th. Karin is also currently working as a TV commentator for super tennis She's making a name for herself and looks good. She's in front of the microphone at all the major tournaments on the WTA Tour. “It was a good time back then” Karin Knapp "Life goes on, but I always enjoy coming to the Foro. It's a special place. My knee is doing quite well. I'm on the court every morning in Anzio as a coach." Speaking of tennis courts: Last Friday, Flavia was able to hit a few balls with Sinner at Kid's Day in Rome. "Jannik didn't even know she was my daughter; it was simply beautiful."

She doesn't look back with nostalgia: "It was a great time back then, but it's also great today, and the fact that a South Tyrolean sits on the throne is simply something special. It's unique; Jannik deserves to be in first place. After Tuesday's victory, he was laughing again, stretching his arms in the air. You can tell he's having fun again. The way he's managing it all is amazing. He's currently a margin above the others; it's not for nothing that he has a lead of almost 2000 points."

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The new life of Karin Knapp

Almost exactly ten years ago today, Karin Knapp played her best match at the Foro Italico. Since then, things have quieted down for the former exceptional player from the Ahrntal Valley.

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