Top
Angelique Kerber US Open 2020
Tennis News, Tennis Players, WTA Tennis Players

“I can still improve” Angelique Kerber doesn’t regret her US Open failure but knows she needs to keep working


Angelique Kerber did not progress beyond the fourth round of the US Open, but believes that playing in New York will stand her in good stead in the weeks ahead.

Playing in her first tournament since the Australian Open, Kerber beat Alja Tomljanovic, Anna-Lena Friedsam and Ann Li at Flushing Meadows before losing to Jennifer Brady.

“For me it was important to have a few matches after such a long break,” the 2016 US Open champion said. “I played well in every single match. I tried my best. Of course I can still improve in my matches. For the first tournament after a break of six months it was a good start for me.”

Kerber said that she had been concerned about the coronavirus pandemic and had sought the advice of a number of players and coaches before deciding to play at the US Open. “The decision to come to New York was not so easy,” she said. “In the end we decided at the last minute. I’m happy that I came and had some good matches and experienced the feeling of playing in a tournament again, playing competitive matches.”

Kerber needs to win the French Open to complete her collection of Grand Slam titles, but the 32-year-old German is not at her best on clay. She has never gone beyond the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, where this year’s rescheduled tournament is due to start in a fortnight’s time.

“Of course now I need to go very quickly on to clay and change my surface, but I don’t think that will be a big problem,” Kerber said. “We’ve travelled all over the world in the last few years and we are used to having to change surfaces quickly. I will try to prepare as well as I can for the clay-court season.”

“The most important thing for me is moving well on clay. Hitting and everything else comes quickly, but taking small steps between the balls and sliding is the biggest challenge for me.”


By
0

Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.