Angelique Kerber has won a tennis match for the second time since her comeback from maternity leave and qualified for the second round at the Masters in Indian Wells.
The former world number one won 6:3, 6:4 against Croatia’s Petra Martic in the Californian desert. The 36-year-old Kerber will next face the tenth seeded Latvian Jeļena Ostapenko. The hard court tournament in Indian Wells is endowed with 9.26 million US dollars (around 8.5 million euros).
“It’s great, it feels so good to be back here and play in front of you and give it everything I’ve got,” said Kerber after her match on Center Court. “I tried to move well and hit the ball into the court. It’s not so easy without a lot of match practice, I’m trying to stay here as long as possible and get as many matches as I can. “
Also Maria continues
Shortly after Kerber, Tatjana Maria also made it through to the second round. The mother-of-two beat Arantxa Rus from the Netherlands 7:6 (7:5), 6:2. The 36-year-old will play Jasmine Paolini in the second round. The Italian is seeded number 13
Kerber became a mother for the first time a year ago and has been back on the tennis tour since the beginning of the year. She won the United Cup ahead of the Australian Open against Ajla Tomljanovic from Australia, but was then knocked out in the first round of the first major, just as she was a month ago at the tournament in Linz.