A RETURN OF A SPECIAL KIND FOR ANGELIQUE KERBER
A return of a special kind: Angelique Kerber experiences déjà-vu Down Under
The electrifying Rod Laver arena, never-ending applause, popping flashbulbs – on this summer’s day in Australia, Angelique Kerber suddenly felt as if she were travelling in time. Transported back to 2016 when she made tennis history at the exact same spot. Since that 30th of January ten years ago, her life has been divided into a before and an after. As is often the case after capturing your first and long-awaited Grand Slam title.
Angelique Kerber active in ‘Team World’ in Melbourne
“All the incredibly countless memories and emotions from back then came flooding back. The title here changed everything. It felt so special,’ enthused Kerber who, in an atmospheric ceremony, was honoured for her successes on theRod Laver Arena’s Centre Court before the women's semi-finals.
The 38-year old mother of two, who is still closely connected to the sport of tennis, remains a very welcome guest both on and off the courts around the world. This also includes Melbourne: In the tournament’s second week, Kerber, alongside former exceptional tennis professionals such as Andrea Petkovic and Tommy Haas, participated in the so-called Legends Cup and was the heart of 'Team World', which prevailed against 'Team Australia' featuring Sam Stosur, Pat Rafter & co. Kerber’s down-the-line forehand winner signature shot is still as sharp as ever.
In her role as sports director of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt event, the former number one of the WTA rankings held several meetings on the sidelines of the Australian Open.
The Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt as a ‘passion project’
During her professional career, she was already actively involved as the tournament ambassador in the grass court tournament in the history-rich Kurpark, the most important event in the week leading up to Wimbledon. It is a ‘passion project', Kerber likes pointing out. The three-time majors’ winner experienced it all firsthand, from the initial vague plans via the Bad Homburg Open 2021 premiere to it being upgraded to a WTA 500 tournament.
She will see some of the top players who competed in the first major of the year in Melbourne again by the time Bad Homburg rolls around – where she will present the trophy to the tournament champion. Incidentally, Kerber keeps her own Australian Open winner’s trophy at her tennis academy in Puszczykowo. The prized piece, weighing roughly ten kilograms, is a memento oft wo crazy weeks in January 2016, which culminated in what can only be describe das sporting immortality: Grand Slam Champion! Accomplished, at last!
Crazy Melbourne 2016: Match point saved and a big bump
Kerber, however, had practically been on a flight back home after the first round. The then number seven seed had to face match point in the tiebreak of the second set in her match against Misaki Doi, ranked number 64 in the world back then. ‘It was a key moment for the rest of the tournament. Misaki’s return on my serve went wide’, Kerber recalls the anxious seconds, of which there were several in Melbourne in 2016: Shortly before the Australian Open started, a wooden slat fell from the wood panelling onto Kerber’s head which she only made public years later in her biography ‘Eine Frage des Willens' (A Matter of Will).
‘I was really panicking’, she said, ‘because at firstI thought someone was in my hotel room.’’ I had a big bump 'which no one noticed because I hid it under my hair.’ No longer trusting the ceiling’s wood panelling, the 2018Wimbledon champion spent the rest of the night with her head at the foot of the bed.
The brief eternity after her first major triumph remains unforgettable
It wasn’t a bad omen. On the contrary: Just over two weeks later, she was in the finals against Serena Williams, perhaps the greatest player of all time. Kerber won 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in front of 14,500 spectators. The photos of her rejoicing went around the world. She threw down her racket, dropped to her back, started sobbing and buried her face in her hands. ‘Everything around me went completely still. It was only seconds, but it felt like an eternity. My brief eternity’, Kerber describing the unforgettable moment.
