Angelique Kerber continues to perfect the balance between performing on the WTA court and caring for her young daughter despite taking a loss at the Linz event.
The former No. 1 with 14 career titles including three Grand Slams, managed to win just four games in the first round against Italian Lucia Bronzetti.
But even in defeat getting it right on the Tour with an infant remains a top priority for the new mother, who has now played three events since making her return to tennis at the event she won 11 years ago.
“Right from the start, I said I’d have to be very patient,” Kerber said.
I have to give myself a few months to get back to match fitness, and to get the feeling of playing matches… but tournament defeats still hurt.
“It’d be terrible if it wasn’t that way. I can definitely still feel the fire within me.”
Kerber said that the challenges of mobile motherhood are a new world for her.
“I have to say the little one is actually very relaxed. I’m very lucky. Travelling doesn’t seem to worry her. Naturally the daily schedule is different.
“On the one hand, I have to concentrate on my job and on the other, the focus is totally different.
“It’s not like I am alone on the Tour anymore as there’s somebody else at my side.
“The focus is no longer completely on me. It’s on my daughter. And it’s a nice situation to be in.”
Main photo:- Angelique Kerber loses first round match in Linz by Alexander Scheuber
