Fed Cup: Kerber interview: “I have always lived from my dreams”

After a complicated season, Angelique Kerber is on the rise again this year. Before the Fed Cup semi-final against the Czech Republic (all matches LIVE on DAZN, Kerbers appearances in LIVESTREAM before FREE on her Facebook page), the former world number one talks about the reasons for her crisis and explains what she did wrong after the successful 2016 season.

Kerber also reveals what is different under the new coach Wim Fissette and what goals she has set herself for the future.

DAZN: Mrs. Kerber, you’re right-handed, but you play tennis with your left hand. Didn’t you ever think of playing with the right in 2017?

Angelique Kerber (laughs): No, I didn’t think of that. I was more concerned with myself and thought about what I could do better. I am a person who always stands up and fights his way back. That makes me special and is one of my strengths.

DAZN: Is the past crisis finally over?

Kerber: You could say that, yes. Looking back to 2016 and 2017, I can only say that I am very grateful. In 2016 I fulfilled my dreams with the titles and successes. But 2017 was also a very instructive year, in which I gained a lot of experience and matured both as a human being and as a tennis player.

DAZN: Did you recognize the signs of the times last year too late?

Kerber: I would definitely notice them earlier now. But we must not forget that 2017 came through 2016. After the successes a lot pelted on me. That happened one by one, so I didn’t have time to process everything. Looking back, I wouldn’t want to do anything differently, but I would take more time for myself and regenerate longer.

DAZN: You address it: The tennis circus is incredibly fast-moving. How can you take time off?

Kerber: You just have to take it. Theoretically, you can play a tennis tournament every week. But to be successful at the big tournaments, you have to take breaks. This is something that the last two years in particular have shown me. At the end of 2016 I didn’t do it like that and maybe started again a week or two too early. Time is very precious – especially in sports and especially when you get older. (laughs)

DAZN: Would the crisis have been more brutal at 23 or 24?

Kerber: I think I would have had a completely different crisis when I was 24. This was a crisis that is normal. For me it didn’t get any worse until the end of the year, everything was new at the beginning anyway. Everyone wants to beat the number one and as soon as you lose a match, it says: “The favourite has lost.” This is a fine line between crisis and non-crisis. You have to sit down with your team and analyze whether something was good or bad and not so much listen to others.

DAZN: So this was more of a creeping process?

Kerber: Exactly. Even before 2016, it was a long process to get to where I was. This does not happen overnight and requires years of work, a lot of trust and people behind you.

DAZN: What exactly was the problem in 2017?

Kerber: It’s difficult to get to the point. I think that’s when some building blocks came together that were splintered from the puzzle – starting with training sessions and daily routines that had to be re-coordinated throughout the whole thing.

DAZN: Did you also have motivation problems?

Kerber: Not a big one, because the passion for tennis was still great. But of course I was wondering what my next goal was. I achieved so much in 2016 that I was still busy at the beginning of 2017 and needed something to reorient myself and tell myself where I actually wanted to go. I’ve always lived by my dreams and never gave up. I still don’t and that’s why I’m as strong or even stronger than in the last few years.

Page 1: Kerber on the crisis and a maturing process

Page 2: Kerber about goals and the change of coach