Former No1 Angelique Kerber is taking a more relaxed approach to her tennis as she prepares to return to competition for the first time since giving birth to daughter Liana. The 35-year-old German is set to play her first match in 18 months on Saturday at the United Cup, where she will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
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The three-time Slam champion has built her career on her tireless defense, left-handed aggression and hot competitive fire. But even Kerber isn’t sure if her intensity remains intact after becoming a mother.
“On the court, I’m a little more relaxed about everything, which when I look back, it wasn’t always like that,” Kerber told WTA Insider from Sydney. “So that’s changed a little bit. As a mom, it’s different. I always have that in the back of my mind. So it’s not like I’m going to court and I forget I’m a mom.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be in the same situation as before. It’s really changed. You always have that in the back of your mind. Even if you go on the field, you have in the back of your mind that you’re still not alone, that there’s someone more important than yourself and you have it in your mind. But it can also give you a little more motivation.”
Reunited with longtime coach Torben Beltz, Kerber has been working on the court since August. The team has taken a slow and gradual approach to getting Kerber back into shape, alternating training blocks with time off.
“I really missed tennis, even just hitting balls,” Kerber said. “But of course, there are so many things to get ready again after a long time of not playing and competing.
“So the first thing was to get back in shape and feel good physically. For me, tennis is never the biggest problem, it’s more about getting back in shape to go out there and fight.”
With a long lead in her competitive return, Kerber finds herself longing for her first proper match. Her last tournament was the 2022 Wimbledon, where she bowed out in the third round to Elise Mertens.
“I hope to have good matches soon, but on the other hand, I will take my time,” Kerber said. “I know I won’t play my best tennis in the first matches. I need a little more time and practice and feel again. How everything works and what works in the match, the competition is always different.”
Kerber doesn’t have to look far for inspiration in her comeback. Last season the tour moms headlined the biggest tournaments of the season. Victoria Azarenka kicked things off with a run to the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Elina Svitolina followed with an inspired run to the Wimbledon semifinals. A few months later, Kerber’s good friend Caroline Wozniacki struggled in the second week at the US Open.
Australia will serve as a testing ground for Kerber, both on and off the court. She’s reluctant to make long-term scheduling commitments until she sees how her family and team handle the next five weeks of flights, jet lag, and competition.
“The schedule is clear that I will play the majors and maybe one or two smaller ones,” Kerber said. “But we’ll see.
“I think for me, the goal is to play at a high level again. I think that’s the first goal I have. I’m going to need time for that, but success is enjoying the time. But on the other hand, you know me, I’m really competitive.
“I really want to do my best to have a lot of matches and play well in the big tournaments. I think that’s my motivation, to go out there and have fun in the tournaments.”