It’s in two days Angelique Kerber back on the court at an official match. At the side of Alexander Zverev The three-time Grand Slam winner is playing for Germany at the United Cup. In the DTB interview, the 35-year-old talks about the anticipation of the comeback, her plans for 2024 and reveals whether her daughter Liana will be there in Australia.
by PM
last edited: December 28, 2023, 12:48 p.m
Angelique Kerber is in the starting blocks for the United Cup in Australia.
You became a mother in February last year. What has changed for you as a result?
Angelique Kerber: New experiences and exciting challenges have been added – especially with a view to this season and the compatibility of work and family. I think I have become more patient in the last few months and have reached a new level in terms of flexibility and spontaneity when planning my day (laughs).
How much did you miss tennis?
Very pretty! The love of tennis has always been my incentive, my motivation. And also the reason why I came back now. Knowing full well that things will be different due to my role as a mother and that I will need patience after my break from competition.
You are currently in Australia preparing for your comeback at the United Cup. Why did you want to return again?
It continues to be an enormous attraction for me to compete against the best players, to give everything, to leave my heart on the pitch, but also to experience these special emotions in the stadium and share them with the fans.
You’re about to play your first competitive match – how are you feeling on and off the pitch?
I’m happy to start my comeback for Germany. Of course, there will also be a bit of nervousness when it comes to points again for me. I will be prepared for that. I realize that coming back will probably be the biggest challenge of my career. But that motivates me…!
What does your team around coach Torben Beltz look like on site? Is Liana already there?
During the extremely long preparation it was important for me to have a team with familiar faces around me who understood my new situation and were flexible. It will certainly take a while for everything to settle into everyday life on the tour. But this phase will definitely be exciting. Liana will definitely be there in Australia.
The way back to the tour won’t be easy. What is important from your point of view?
For a long time, fitness training was the top priority because this is where you lose the most in a year and a half. It’s helpful that you know your own body exactly as a professional athlete and know what you can expect of yourself – and what you can’t. I was happy with the preparation and feel ready. It’s clear that I have high expectations of myself when I go out on the pitch. But it is also clear that I have to give myself time.
You play alongside Sascha Zverev for Germany in the United Cup. What did you plan to do with your DTB dress?
We are a good team and have already played together successfully. For example at the Hopman Cup 2019 in Perth, when we narrowly lost in the final against Switzerland with Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic. There were some lovely moments left in my memory!
After the United Cup, what are your goals for the 2024 season?
After the United Cup in Sydney I’ll play the tournament in Adelaide, a little later the Australian Open and with it the first Grand Slam tournament of the year is on the program. So it happens in quick succession. As always in my career so far, I’m looking forward to the Australian summer this time too. Other highlights of the season for me are the Olympic Games in Paris, Wimbledon and of course the German tournaments in Bad Homburg, Stuttgart and Hamburg.
Among other things, you have already confirmed your participation in three German tournaments (Hamburg, Bad Homburg & Stuttgart). How much are you looking forward to seeing the German tennis fans again?
It’s always special to play in front of the home fans. You can feel the energy of the audience a little more intensely. For me in 2021, winning the tournament in Bad Homburg was almost like a little summer fairy tale and the start of a really good run at Wimbledon and in the weeks after. It would of course be a dream to be able to repeat this next summer in Bad Homburg, Stuttgart or Hamburg, especially in front of a home crowd.
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2023-12-28 16:15:00
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