In the Billie Jean King Cup, the returnee is also expected to do well. But Kerber’s form has been shaky after her maternity leave and the stress of traveling is wearing her down. She is only nominated for doubles against Brazil
Angelique Kerber can concentrate fully on her comeback in the German tennis team, but without her little daughter at home this time, she is missing something for complete happiness in Brazil.
“I still love tennis, but now I’m first and foremost a mother, with all my heart and great joy,” said Kerber: “There’s a little person in my life who is much more important than tennis.” Unlike usual, 13-month-old Liana will not be accompanying the former world number one to the qualifying round of the Billie Jean King Cup against Brazil in São Paulo on April 12 and 13. The long flight, the time change and the different climate are enough of a challenge for the mother.
“Brazil is certainly not a lucky draw for us in terms of traveling. But we have to look on the bright side and try to make the best of it,” said the three-time Grand Slam tournament winner, who is also looking forward to her first start in Germany after an 18-month maternity leave: The main draw of the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart starts just two days after the end of the first round in the Billie Jean King Cup. “It’s going to be difficult with the time change and the jet lag. “
Kerber’s challenges
Perhaps these were also reasons why team boss Rainer Schüttler only nominated the former world No. 1 for the doubles for the time being. Kerber is scheduled to play alongside Anna-Lena Friedsam against Beatriz Haddad Maia/Luisa Stefani on Saturday (local time) and potentially win the decisive point for Germany. However, Tatjana Maria and Laura Siegemund will play the four singles matches on Friday and Saturday. Schüttler has the option of changing the line-up again for the second match day.
Kerber (36) is used to challenges since she returned to the tour as a mother at the turn of the year. After the expected problems in January, things recently went much better at the Masters in Indian Wells, and in some phases the “old” Angelique Kerber could even be seen again. However, the next setback came at the following tournament in Miami with a first-round exit. Patience – not the strength of the Bremen-born player – is required. “It’s getting better day by day,” said Kerber.
Kerber, who last took part in the prestigious international competition in 2022, is a “great boost” for the German women’s team, as Schüttler emphasized. But Kerber no longer allows pressure from outside to get to her. “That time is over,” she said in an interview with her sponsor Porsche: “I love the feeling of being on the court and enjoying the emotions of the fans. It gives me strength, that’s why I came back. “
Hot-blooded fans as another opponent
Emotions should be guaranteed in the Arena Ginásio Ibirapuera, which holds around 10,000 spectators. “The Brazilian fans will make a lot of noise and also try to disrupt us,” predicted Schüttler: “We have to prepare well for that mentally.” Kerber is also expecting a “difficult task” on the clay court against the Brazilians, led by world number 13 Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Past experience gives hope. Last year, the German team won 3:1 against Brazil in Stuttgart without Kerber and qualified for the final round of the Billie Jean King Cup. Germany even won the international comparison 5:0. Once again, the aim is to win and thus reach the finals in Seville in November. The loser will play against relegation in the relegation play-off. In addition to Kerber, Maria, Siegemund and Friedsam, Eva Lys is also in the German squad. Jule Niemeier, who has been out of form for months, was not included
