French Open: Kerber flat - but ready for round two
Angelique Kerber finally broke the spell in Paris. Alexander Zverev is also getting ready for the next step.
by SID
last edit: May 24, 2022, 06:48 pm
Nothing worked. Angelique Kerber sat completely exhausted in the stomach of the Philippe Chatrier court shortly before midnight – but she was beaming. "I now have a day off and then I'll be ready again," said the 34-year-old German number one: "I'm a player who recovers quickly and we'll see how far the journey can go."
For the first time since 2018, the journey does not go straight home after their opening match in Paris. While her thoughts quickly focused on rapid regeneration, the former world number one also savored the moment of success after the hard-fought 2: 6, 6: 3, 7: 5 against Magdalena Frech from Poland.
Kerber - "There are still a few matches to play"
"It was incredible," said Kerber, who had only managed a first-round win against number 89 in the world on the drafty outdoor pitch 6 and, as a three-time Grand Slam winner, has had completely different successes. But the loud applause from the fans that echoed throughout the facility meant a lot to her and carried her to victory. Kerber's legs didn't want to go anymore, but with the spirit of winning the tournament in Strasbourg, she always stayed in the match in her head and turned the game around after two match points against her.
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Memories of 2016 came up, of her first big triumph in Melbourne, when Kerber also fended off a match ball against the Japanese Misaki Doi in the first round and then started the big coup at the Australian Open. "I was on the plane with one leg," she said at the time. "I thought for a moment that I had the same thing in Australia," said Kerber in Paris: "But well, that doesn't mean anything, there are still a few matches to play."
Zverev and Kerber on the Philippe-Chatrier court
She continues on Wednesday against 19-year-old Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot (12 p.m. / Eurosport). Kerber is in a duel with the world number 215. again clearly favoured, but still a clear outsider in the title race.
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, who will have his next appearance in Paris against the not harmless Argentinian Sebastian Baez after the Kerber's match on the center court, is already looking more at the trophy. Zverev again relies on the tips of his new coach Sergi Bruguera, who triumphed twice in the French capital.
"At the moment I'm very happy with the whole relationship," said Zverev, who reached the semifinals at Roland Garros last year. Andrea Petkovic will also make her next appearance against Wiktoria Asarenka from Belarus on Wednesday.
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