tennis
Competition expects Kerber at Wimbledon: “Dangerous”
Kerber with a trophy in her hands – that hasn’t happened since her comeback. Photo
© Tim Ireland/AP/dpa
Angelique Kerber is still waiting for a title this year. Now she’s playing on her favorite surface, grass – and the competition has respect for her.
Despite moderate success this year, tennis player Angelique Kerber continues to be held in high esteem by her competitors. “She is still very dangerous. Especially on grass, because she plays very flat balls. She won Wimbledon, that is probably her best surface,” praised world number three Aryna Sabalenka on the sidelines of the tennis tournament in Berlin. At the preparation event for Wimbledon, which begins on July 1, the two Grand Slam champions could only face off in the final.
Since her comeback after maternity leave, Kerber has not yet won a title. Her best results were the round of 16 in Indian Wells and Rome. The former world number one has fallen to 224th place in the rankings. “It’s difficult to play at the top level again after a pregnancy. It takes time. Maybe she’s not back to 100 percent yet, but she’ll get there,” Sabalenka predicted.
At the grass event in Grunewald, Kerber will face the young Czech Linda Noskova (19) today. Alongside Jule Niemeier, who will play against last year’s Croatian finalist Donna Vekic, Kerber is the only German in the singles competition.