Angelique Kerber has a prominent partner on her comeback
29.12.2023, 15:46 | Reading time: 3 minutes
Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev enjoy a stroll through Sydney Harbor before their opening match in the United Cup on Saturday.
Foto: Mark Evans / Getty Images
In Australia, the Kiel native returns to the tour after a maternity leave. She plays for Germany with Alexander Zverev in Sydney.
Sydney/Hamburg. Before her comeback she treated herself Angelique Kerber another boat tour with a picturesque view. Kerber and her team partner sailed with a view of the famous opera house and the Harbor Bridge Alexander Zverev in bright sunshine in the bays of Sydney. One last distraction before returning to the Tennis-Circus after 18 months of maternity leave.
On this Saturday morning Central European time, the German team meets in United Cup In Sydney they face Italy, on New Year’s morning France awaits in the fight for a place in the quarter-finals. Kerber and Zverev, the former number one in the world rankings and the reigning Olympic champion, are scheduled to serve in the singles.
Kerber’s game against Jasmine Paolini, number 97 in the world, is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. (CET) on Saturday. Kerber feels “ready”: “The training went according to plan and the anticipation for the start of the season in Australia is increasing.”
Kerber faces “biggest challenge of his career”
Nevertheless, the three-time Grand Slam winner finds her return to work “the biggest challenge of her career,” as Kerber confided to the Süddeutsche Zeitung. “It won’t work without patience,” she explained and admitted that she couldn’t seriously assess her own level of performance: “I have no idea.”
But the excitement of starting clearly outweighs the doubts. “Just being on the pitch again, playing matches and feeling the energy of the audience, that motivates me,” said the 35-year-old: “I love the sport, that’s why I do it all.”
No nanny – daughter Liana is looked after by family
The timetable is clear: United Cup, WTA tournament in Adelaide and then the first highlight in the new career phase – the Australian Open, which Kerber won in 2016. For her comeback, Kerber has brought her long-time companion Torben Beltz back into the team as a coach.
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Kerber arrived with her ten-month-old daughter Liana; she is not accompanied by a nanny. “The family knows the little one and has experienced the rhythm and processes,” explained Kerber. “Then I know that when I go onto the pitch everything is under control and Liana is in good hands. That’s the most important thing for me.”
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The Kiel native deliberately chose the United Cup as a comeback tournament. “Competing as a team for Germany, together with Sascha Zverev, is of course a completely different feeling than starting in a regular tournament,” said the former world number one. “For both of us it is always a great honor to play for Germany. “
The Olympic champion is looking forward to seeing Kerber again and predicts: “When she is fit, she is still one of the best in the world.” He spoke to Kerber in preparation, “she is already training very, very hard,” he revealed World number seven: “It’s going to be good!”
Fri, December 29, 2023, 3:46 p.m
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2023-12-29 14:46:58
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