New-mom Angelique Kerber reveals ‘dream’ comeback date after giving birth
Angelique Kerber admits not being able to compete at Wimbledon this year will be “strange”, but she is taking baby steps in terms of her comeback following the birth of her first child.
The three-time Grand Slam and her long-time partner Franco Bianco became first-time parents on February 25 and they named the baby girl Liana.
When she announced her pregnancy last year, former world No 1 Kerber insisted that she had no plans to retire after becoming a mother but maintained that she will only return to competitive tennis once she is “100 percent, fit again and feel good”.
And that plan has not changed as she told Germany’s Bild am Sontag that “not being a player at Wimbledon this year is a strange feeling”, but she won’t rush her comeback.
“I’m training again, especially a lot of fitness in the early stages, to get my body used to the training load again,” she revealed. “In Poland, in my academy, I’ve already hit a few balls. Now in Bad Homburg I’ve completed a more intensive session for the first time, playing for over an hour.”
Once she returns, she will follow in the footsteps of Elina Svitolina who reached the French Open quarter-final this year after giving birth in October last year. Other players who have returned to action after giving birth in recent years include Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Taylor Townsend.
The 35-year-old Kerber added: “I will return as the new season begins with the clear aim of playing the Australian Open in 2024. This also includes the preparatory tournaments in January in Australia, maybe the United Cup for Germany. Rejoining the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne would be a dream.”
The German won her maiden Grand Slam at the 2016 Australian Open and followed it up with the US Open in September that year before her final major came at Wimbledon in 2018.
Despite spending a lengthy period on the sidelines, Kerber has no intention of returning “just to play” as she has set her sights high.
“I have high expectations of myself, that hasn’t changed. On the other hand, I’m also aware of how long the way back can be,” she said.
“I don’t want to come back just to play. That would be the wrong attitude, I don’t have to prove anything to anyone anymore. That’s why I’m taking my time now to get fit.
“I could probably play Wimbledon and the US Open this year, but not at the level I imagine. The goal is the Grand Slam tournaments, that’s what I’m working towards. And of course the 2024 Olympics in Paris.”
