Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki backing each other up as mums on tour
Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki are former champions out to regain their best level after time away to start their families which has forged a bond between the two.
Both players have had to take some punishment on the WTA Tour as they seek to get back up to pace.
Kerber says that she is motivated by her love of the game and the intensity of competition.
“For me, the biggest motivation is the love for the sport,” Kerber said from Indian Wells.
“I love to compete, being out there today as well, having this crowd, having the emotions, this gives me everything.”
Kerber has a fresh perspective on life and the sport of tennis thanks to motherhood.
She feels that her approach is different now that tennis isn’t the biggest thing in her life anymore.
“Having my daughter [by] my side, it’s even more inspiring for me,” she said.
“There’s something bigger than tennis as well, which I learned, and it’s not tennis anymore, it’s her. And having the combination of doing something I love and having her by my side, this is the most inspiration for me.”
Kerber says that becoming a mother has forced her to become very well organised to ensure that she gets anything done at all.
“It’s just about organization,” she said.
“I think that’s the most important thing. You have to be really flexible, as well, and to really make a good schedule for the day.”
She finds that she needs to switch on her competitive mode when she steps onto the court.
“I try when I step on-site to switch [on] my tennis player, but when I’m out of the site, I just turn my life to being a mom and just try to forget about [tennis], to really enjoying every moment, especially here in Indian Wells,” she said.
Kerber adds that she has been fortunate not to lose too much sleep on account of her daughter.
“She is not a child who is crying all the time, so she’s really calm,” Kerber said.
“I think she’s enjoying it as well. But of course sometimes you have nights where you will not get so much sleep, but it’s all worth it.”
Former world No 1 Wozniacki is one of Kerber’s biggest supporters.
“I think I always root for her, I think I always have, for a very long time,” Wozniacki said.
“Not having played many matches, it’s not easy, especially not easy playing a player like Ostapenko, so for her to really have the grit and the fight and the movement that she had today, and the way she was moving around the ball, I think just shows that she keeps playing better and better for every match – she feels more and more comfortable.
“That was good to see. I definitely watched some on TV when I was waiting for my match.”