Stuttgart – Angelique Kerber wants to play for the German tennis team in the relegation round of the Billie Jean King Cup in November.
“I also played the finals last year in Prague and I will be there again now. For better or for worse,” announced the 34-year-old from Kiel on Easter Monday in Stuttgart. “I’m always proud to play for my country, this time too. Maybe we’ll have a bit of luck in the draw this time.”
On Friday and Saturday before, the German women’s tennis team lost 1-3 in Kazakhstan and thus missed out on qualifying for the finals of the Nations Competition, which used to be called the Fed Cup. On 11 and 12 November, the team will play against relegation from the top group. The opponent is still open.
Kerber has a tough first-round task ahead of her against Estonian fifth seed Anett Kontaveit at the indoor tournament in Stuttgart after the two three-set defeats in Kazakhstan. “I feel good so far. I don’t really have jet lag now, it all fits,” said the German number one.
As for a few days before the tournament in Indian Wells, Kerber is training in Stuttgart with German women’s team coach Rainer Schüttler. The collaboration was planned for this tournament, he said. “I’m trying to continue here now what we started in Kazakhstan,” said Kerber, who is travelling without a permanent coach this season.