“Angie played incredibly”
With Zverev, Kerber masters her successful comeback
December 30, 2023, 3:13 p.m
Angelique Kerber still has to lose the first game, but together with Alexander Zverev she is turning up the heat. At the United Cup she made a successful comeback on the tennis tour. The 35-year-old is happy – and receives great praise from her match partner.
Angelique Kerber grinned relaxed and threw her arms around her doubles partner Alexander Zverev – then the two tennis stars cheered exuberantly with the German team. Kerber celebrated a successful return to the tennis tour after a year and a half of baby break. The three-time Grand Slam winner and her teammates beat Italy 2-1 at the start of the United Cup.
“We are very happy. Angie played incredibly after the long break. That shows what kind of player she is,” Zverev praised the 35-year-old, who was happy about a “special day.” “It feels great to win a match again,” said Kerber.
Germany initially fell behind 0-1 due to Kerber’s 4:6, 5:7 singles defeat against Jasmine Paolini, but Olympic champion Zverev brought the team through the 6:7 (5:7), 6:3, 6:4 second singles of the day against Lorenzo Sonego. In the decisive mixed doubles, Kerber/Zverev won 6:3, 6:0 against Sonego and Angelica Moratelli and took a big step towards the quarter-finals of the United Cup.
Kerber last played a match on the tour at Wimbledon in the summer of 2022. She gave birth to her daughter Liana in February 2023 and has been working hard to return since then.
“You shouldn’t expect anything”
“You shouldn’t expect anything – she’s been out for over a year. It’ll take a bit of time,” national coach Barbara Rittner had confided to the SID before the game, but Kerber presented himself quite competitive at the start. She was in the lead early on against the world number 97 before losing the thread a little in the middle of the first round.
In front of the eyes of her long-term coach Torben Beltz, who is the team captain of the German team in Australia, Kerber also had major problems with her serve in the second round – she received a total of six breaks in the intense game. She was no longer able to make decisive use of a weak phase for Paolini, who suffered from leg cramps in the second round.
Zverev, who wants to attack the big titles again in the season that has now started, had a tough time against the strong world number 46. Sonego also struggled at the start and dropped the first set after a close tiebreak. In an intense game at a good level, he fought back and was finally able to celebrate.
Renunciation of specialist Siegemund
In the final doubles, the German team surprisingly did without specialist Laura Siegemund and relied on Kerber alongside Zverev. It paid off. After initial difficulties, the duo dominated their opponents, won eleven games in a row and secured their opening success.
The mixed nations competition will be held for the second time as a season opener. 18 teams compete in Perth and Sydney. The first in each of the six groups of three as well as the two best runners-up in the preliminary round qualify for the quarter-finals of the ten million dollar tournament at the beginning of January. On New Year’s morning, France awaits the German team in the fight for a place in the top eight.