Angelique Kerber eyeing the Career Grand Slam this year
She may not have won the Hopman Cup, but Angelique Kerber put on a powerhouse display of quality tennis throughout the tournament, winning all four of her singles matches. The German was rock solid all week, dispatching two-time grand slam champion Garbie Muguruza and Top 20 Ashleigh Barty.
Kerber displayed supreme confidence and looks closer to her breakthrough top form that took her to two grand slam titles, an Olympic Silver, and the WTA final in 2016. The reigning Wimbledon champ, the 30 year-old will be retaining the impressive self-confidence shown in Perth to the Australian Open, coming up in one week.
The last time the world No. 2 won the title in 2016, the same remarkable year she won the U.S. Open. However, the three-time slam champ disappointed fans by following up that incredible year with a major dip in form and injuries in 2017.
The German has since bounced back to become one of the major contenders for majors again this year. The former world No. 1 erased the problems from 2017 by achieving a third slam in her arsenal, defeating legend Serena Williams, at last years Wimbledon in straight sets.
Ending the season as a world number one and winning [2018] Wimbledon title were definitely my best moments in career for me, Kerber said according to a recent Italian Vogue interview.
The only slam title missing for Angelique Kerber is the French Open. Her compatriot and idol, Steffi Graf won six Roland Garros crowns, including her last slam, as well as the Career Grand Slam. Clay presents a much tougher challenge for Kerber, noted the head of the German Tennis Association, Barbara Rittner, in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
If you have already won the other three titles, Paris is a special challenge. Clay is not her favorite surface, it gets very slow when its wet. But you never know. A lot of things have to go right, but if the weather in Paris is nice, including the week before the tournament, there could be an opening.
Kerber is also working with a new coach, Rainer Schttler, having split from Wim Fissette right before the WTA Finals last year. We understand each other, the confidence is there, we speak the same language, said Kerber.
He is my first coach who once competed as a professional. He knows how it feels to be on the court and feel the pressure. I think I have a good coach next to me with Rainer who recognized my defects on my game and now I know I can improve a lot.
If her performance at the Hopman Cup is any indication, she is beginning the new year in top form. In Perth, she refused to drop her high-quality level throughout the tournament. She will be looking to bring her aggressive all-court game to Melbourne and go for a repeat slam Down Under.
Rittner thinks Schttler will push the German talent to play more aggressive this year. In general, its about her offensive game, she is unbelievably good with the volley in this more aggressive, more daring game.
Im sure theyll work on it, said Rittner. Angelique Kerber is on the hunt for more silver this year and is heading into Melbourne in very strong form. She will be a major contender this year.
