After a last year that was measured by the yardsticks of 2016, Angelique Kerber has been back on top of the world since the beginning of the season.
From Jörg Allmeroth from Dubai
On Monday, Angelique Kerber had put in an extra evening training shift to get used to the space conditions at late hours in Dubai. The 30-year-old from Kiel, whose year began so strongly and convincingly, leaves nothing to chance these days. And the meticulous preparation with coach Wim Fissette was more than worthwhile and successful as desired: it took Kerber just one hour on Tuesday’s night show at the Centre Court to defeat the Czech Barbora Strycova with 6:2 and 6:1:”At the moment I feel great self-confidence. You can see that in my game,”said the ninth in the world rankings, who will now face Italian qualifier Sara Errani in the tent-roofed arena at about 1 p. m. German time on Wednesday. In doing so, Kerber wants to and will focus on one thing above all else: aggressiveness, courage and determination. And the willingness to assert oneself with one’s own, forward-looking game.
Kerber had seen a ray of hope at last year’s Dubai Duty Free Championships in the general gloom, when she reached the semi-finals after a messed-up start to the season in the glittering metropolis on the Gulf. In 2018, Kerber is no longer one of the players who advertise for the tournament on the billboards and who are in the absolute focus of media interest – but Kerber is also one of them. That’s what this actually means: Kerber is able to concentrate on the development of her game, away from the constantly pressing deadlines, such as for a number one front woman. One even believes her when she says these days that she doesn’t really care about this or that ranking in the world ranking:”It’s nice to be back in the top ten so quickly. But it’s nothing to keep you busy all the time. What counts are good matches. And a game that continues to improve.”
Routine tasks, which were so difficult for her last year, Kerber does again with sovereignty and great focus. Against the quite uncomfortable Strycova she never let a doubt arise about the victory. In the final phase, the 30-year-old was even able to allow herself some experiments, occasionally, to the surprise of her opponent, to present herself on the net, cheering offense points won with a clenched fist.”It is important to incorporate new elements into the game, to be incalculable,”Kerber later said. With this success, she improved her annual record to 13-2 victories, excluding the Hopman Cup in Perth. In Dubai, Kerber’s goal is to continue to win ground in the fight for World Cup participation, which is currently ranked third in the annual ranking. As a reminder: Last year the Kerber season ended sadly at the B-Championat in Zhuhai. She had already left there in frustration when countrywoman Julia Görges won the trophy. But 2017 is far behind for Kerber, very far indeed. Now the music plays with her again.