Tennis player Angelique Kerber is injured before her first tournament appearance in Germany after her maternity leave. Even before she left for the Billie Jean King Cup in Brazil, an infection weakened the former Wimbledon champion. Kerber was not used in the 3-1 win for the German tennis women at the weekend.
From São Paulo, the 36-year-old Kerber traveled to Stuttgart, where she is expected to play her first round match against former British US Open champion Emma Raducanu on Wednesday. The woman from Kiel became the mother of a daughter in February 2023. She returned to the tennis tour in Australia at the beginning of the year.
“It definitely takes a while to get back into it, and you have to play a few matches to feel really good on the court again,” said Tatjana Maria, who is a mother of two on the tennis tour . With regard to Kerber, she said: “I think that she might need a little more time. On the other hand, I think that she can come back quickly and that she is ready.”
Kerber, Maria and Siegemund with wild cards
The two Swabians Maria (36) and Laura Siegemund (36) are, alongside Kerber, the other German participants in the high-class indoor clay court tournament in Stuttgart. All three Germans received wildcards for the main field. Maria will face the Belgian Elise Mertens in the first round on Tuesday. Siegemund will play against Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk on Wednesday.
Maria scored a point in Brazil. Siegemund won both of her singles. The two Swabians led the German tennis women to success against the hosts and thus ensured qualification for the final round of the Billie Jean King Cup.
