Angelique Kerber: Now That I’m No. 1, Everyone Wants To Beat Me!

by Tom Gainey | September 26th, 2016, 8:13 pm
  • 7 Comments

Angelique Kerber returns to tennis this week in Wuhan, China. The German comes in off her second career Grand Slam title winning the US Open. And she will also play her first match as the No. 1 player in the world! With that ranking comes the big target on her back.

“Every player would like to beat me now,” Kerber said. “So I will just try to going out and not thinking about this. I’m going out to think like they are: to beat everybody on court as well, to win the matches. I think when I’m going with this focus in the match, like I did also the last few months and tournaments before, that worked. So I will try to continue that.”

And as the No. 1 and a Grand Slam winner, Kerber says life is different.


“It’s different,” she said. “It’s really different. Before, like one year ago, if somebody asked me, Would you prefer to be No. 1 or win Grand Slams? My answer was always, First I would like to win a Grand Slam and then the next step is to be No. 1. Like I said then, to win a Grand Slam for me, it was always the biggest dream, but then to reaching the No. 1 was the second one. To do it in one tournament, that was really special.

“I think I will never forget the two weeks in New York with all the emotions, all the positive feedbacks what I get. That was really, really the best feeling that I had in my career.”

Kerber added that coming home after her US Open win was different from her win in Melbourne.

“I knew what came, so that was good, because I have the experience from Australia,” she said. “But I just came home, and I was really, like, enjoying every day at home, first of all. After the eight weeks of the U.S. trip, I was just trying to enjoy every moment at home.

“We celebrate actually, yeah, at home with a nice dinner, with music, with friends and family. So more easy. I was really tired after that.”

Kerber opens her Wuhan bid Tuesday against Kristina Mladenovic. With Serena taking the Asian swing off, Kerber could come close to wrapping up the year-end No. 1 ranking if she wins the title this week.


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7 Comments for Angelique Kerber: Now That I’m No. 1, Everyone Wants To Beat Me!

Dan Martin Says:

I think her post-Aussie adjustment to being a slam winner should help her with the target being on her back as #1.


AndyMira Says:

Yeah Angel..certainly different in many levels..The most obvious is the pressure..It’s very very interesting to see how she will handle the enormous pressure of being no 1 in the next few months..Not easy for sure..And once Serena come back on tour,she definitely will chase her no 1 back..And when the AO come, when Angel has to defend her title and points there..Oh,i can see things will get more intense and full of flavour in WTA..Bring in on gals!


SG1 Says:

I think that there are two “feel good” stories from 2016. Kerber’s ascension to No.1 and winning two majors is one of them. Novak finally winning that elusive FO was the other.

Kerber proved she’s the best hard courter on the planet and did something very difficult. She backed up a surprise 1st major with another in the same year. Serena may chase her down next year…or maybe not. Either way, Kerber’s attitude is excellent and she has no weaknesses. Her success this year is a statement to Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, Eugenie Bouchard (just to name a few), that winning majors is as much about heart as it is about big forehands and backhands.

Very happy for Kerber. She is without doubt (at least to me), WTA Player of the Year.


Van Persie Says:

Good points, SG1. Will only add that Novak has not only won the elusive FO, he did the so called “Nole slam”.
And Kerber…wow. I would have never thought she would be Nr. 1.


Willow Says:

SG1 I Would put Delpo in there too,also Murray winning another SW19 title, and Olympic gold medal, especially if your a Brit lol ….


Willow Says:

Angie was the player of the year on the WTA, bagging two GS, and the number 1 ranking, Mugaruza winning the FO, and Pliskova beating Serana making the final of the USO, great for the WTA to see new players making a break through ….

I will give Stan a nod too for winning the USO, showing he is capable of raising his game, and playing amazing tennis again ….


Danica Says:

Willow,
all of them valid points!

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