Angelique Kerber in an exclusive interview about her comeback plans: “Emotions that nobody can take away from you”

Angelique Kerber could really see how much she had missed this feeling.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s “training” or the surprising show double to say goodbye to Andrea Petkovic. The return to the tennis court, and then to her favorite surface, grass, was a joy for the 35-year-old on the sidelines of the tournament in Bad Homburg.

For the first time, Kerber is not an active player at the third edition of the WTA event, which she has been helping to shape since 2021 and for which she is a tournament ambassador.

The German played her last match on the tour almost exactly a year ago. In the third round of Wimbledon, she lost to Belgian Elise Mertens in straight sets. A lot has happened in the life of the native of Bremen since then.

Kerber on comeback: “Australia next year would be ideal”

Daughter Liana was born on February 25. The new “main character” in her life, as Kerber interviewed Eurosport reveals: “I got a completely different view of the world, a completely different focus.”

However, her new job as a mom does not mean the end of her active career, the former world number one did that exclusively last September Eurosport clear. “I’ll definitely be back,” said Kerber at the time. These plans have now become more concrete.

“Australia next year would be ideal. The goal would be to start the comeback there,” said the three-time Grand Slam winner. She won her first major title in Melbourne in 2016.

However, the prerequisite is to “become 100 percent fit beforehand. That has always paid off for me and is the be-all and end-all.” Kerber dares to get back to the top level. “I don’t think tennis itself is the problem. It’s more the willingness to play through a complete tournament,” said the 35-year-old: “Matches day after day, that’s a completely different burden. You’re completely tense, mentally too.”

Kerber is still burning: “Emotions that nobody can take away from you”

Hardships that Kerber only takes on again because the fire continues to simmer in her.

“Everyone asks me what else motivates me? I don’t have to prove it to anyone anymore, I don’t have to show anyone what I can do anymore. I’ve had my successes,” she clarified in conversation with Eurosport moderator Matthias Stach: “But that motivates me , is that feeling of being on the pitch. For the fans, to play with the fans. These are emotions that no one can take away from you. I think that only happens in sports. That’s my motivation.”

Kerber is by no means the first professional player to try to combine jet set life on tour with everyday family life. Victoria Azarenka or Serena Williams have done it, Tatjana Maria is even a mother of two.

“I was afraid that my entire life would change. Of course it has changed and you have to coordinate a lot more and design the plan differently,” says Kerber.

So far, however, everything has worked very well, which is also down to daughter Liana herself: “We were lucky that she slept through the night. She found her rhythm quickly. During the day she cries when she’s a little hungry, and that’s it. She is really calm. I hope it stays that way.”

Kerber continues to develop

Kerber has also learned a lot about himself in the past few months. “I’m positively surprised that I’ve managed to be and appear relaxed. Being patient, which isn’t my greatest strength.” She also doesn’t lose her composure as quickly as she used to.

All properties that can also help Kerber on the tennis court. Preferably in January next year, when the exceptional player wants to know more.