German World No. 6, Angelique Kerber speaks during a press conference held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex ahead of the Qatar Total Open 2019, in Doha yesterday. Picture: Abdul Basit/The Peninsula
German tennis star Angelique Kerber is aiming to hit the ground running at this week’s Qatar Total Open that kicks off today.
The 31-year-old Wimbledon champion arrived in Doha four days ago to prepare for the six-day tournament.
“It’s nice to be back here. I came a little bit earlier to get ready for this tournament and to get used to the courts, to the weather, conditions and everything else,” Kerber said yesterday.
The three-time Grand Slam champion said she expects a tough grind in Doha where she will be joined by former champion Simona Halep, 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki and Karolina Pliskova.
“You know, there are a lot of (tough) players. It’s a tough draw but I like to play here. I mean, of course the conditions are always a little bit different than if you play during the day and the night sessions,” Kerber said.
“But this is a challenge and I’m always looking to come here and play in Doha. For me, it’s important to be playing good,” she added.
“I saw against who I would play here but that’s it. I’m not the player who is really watching the draw. I know who is playing here. I know it is a tough draw.
“I think it’s also good for us to have a huge competition. I mean, this is always the challenge if you’re going to a tournament. Let’s see. The tournament is set to start. I’m ready for that,” Kerber said.
The German, who has won more than $27m in career prize money, said a good run in Doha remained her target for the week.
“To play well in this tournament, that for sure is my goal, to have good matches. I want to have a good time as well,” Kerber said.
When asked about the goals in the new season, Kerber said yesterday: “It’s just the beginning of the year. For me, the goal is always to play consistent and to play good in the big tournaments. This is also my goal this year.”
Kerber said repeating her performances from last season remained a possibility.
“I’m always trying to improve my tennis every day and I try to play better and better every year. You always have up and downs. For me, I have so much experience right now,” Kerber said.
“For me, it’s important now to enjoy my tennis. If everything comes together, I can still play better and play the same dominating way (like last year) but it’s always important to improve my tennis. This is what I’m trying to do,” she added.
The German tennis veteran said her fourth-round loss to Danielle Collins at last month’s Australian Open was ‘just a bad day’.
“It was just a bad day from my side. It can always happen. It was of course not the best timing. She played good. She played good matches after (beating) me,” Kerber said.
“I did not think too much about this match. (After the loss) I flew back home. I had a few days off and then I started to get ready with fitness days. Then I arrived here a little bit earlier to get ready for the tennis. More or less, (it is) here I start,” she added.
To a question, Kerber said winning the Wimbledon title last year wasn’t exactly her best performance.
“I think I have played a lot of good tournaments already. Wimbledon for me was for a tournament that I wanted to win one day. That’s for sure. And I had a lot of emotions last year. But I also played well in Australia when I won there (in 2016). So I cannot really say that (winning Wimbledon) was my best performance ever,” Kerber said.
Most memorable, perhaps?
“Yes,” Kerber said with a smile.
