Kerber-Aus in Paris: The lost year for the former tennis front woman
Night had long since fallen in Paris on Monday when Angelique Kerber had her last service engagement at this strange, just opened French Open 2020.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Sep 29, 2020, 12:07 pm
She had a few questions to answer, a virtual press conference was still pending for her unadorned 3-6, 3-6 expulsion in round one against 19-year-old Kaja Juvan from Slovenia. Kerber ticked off the daily news quickly and resolutely, it was just “one of those days” when nothing worked, a day “without rhythm”, “without feeling” for the ball and the situation, a day to tick off and delete.
The chat was almost over when they wanted to know from Kerber how she assessed the whole year, her shortened working hours in the global health crisis. Kerber thought a little before moving a little evasively into the blur: “I don't know yet. It was a strange year, another year. ”And she said this, too, decidedly undecided:“ I don't yet know what will happen in the next few weeks. Everything is still open. "
Kerber: A feat of strength back to the top of the world?
Perhaps things will not go on in this series of games, in which Kerber only played thirteen games and never made it past the round of 16 in any tournament. Kerber, it can be said, was certainly not one of the winners of women's tennis in the Corona era, on the contrary. As with many players whose careers are slowly coming to an end, 2020 appeared to be a very lost year for the three-time Grand Slam queen. The question that arises for the German front woman after the end of the major appearances this season is this: Can we make up for lost ground? And does Kerber once again create a great effort of will, an act of strength that will bring you back to the top of the world?
Kerber's ascent into the elite area of her sport began ten years ago, at that time together with her friend Andrea Petkovic. Petkovic also retired on Monday at the Roland Garros start, in their very first professional match this season. Petkovic recently suffered from injury problems again and again, and Kerber also had a pinch here and there. After her very sad farewell, Petkovic announced that she would now concentrate fully on 2021, which will probably be the last season in the traveling circus. "I want a nice finish, I hope that I can attack again fully," she said.
Could it be that Kerber has similar plans? This cannot be completely dismissed. At the moment, the former world number one is number 22 in the industry charts, it seems a bit like no man's land for someone with traditionally big goals and big ambitions like Kerber. Recently, it was becoming increasingly difficult for the Kiel woman to keep the distance to the best, the much younger new stars, as she was no longer necessarily a candidate for the title in the top competitions. However, one thing was also clear: As an unpredictable greatness, she was always capable of a surprise mission, for a special coup. "If there is one thing you shouldn't do, it's to write off Angie," says the German women's tennis boss Barbara Rittner.
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Kerber has to focus on 2021
But if there is one thing Kerber didn’t need and need, it’s a fragmented, imponderable schedule, this pandemic tennis with all sorts of question marks. Kerber needs regularity, regulated relationships, then she too can develop constancy, also develop that rhythm in the game that she missed so much during her bleak guest performance in Paris on Monday evening.
When Kerber entered the Center Court of the planned WTA tournament in Bad Homburg in the summer, she appeared again in a larger tennis environment for the first time after months of her own lonely lockdown. There wasn't much serious tennis for her then, after much deliberation she traveled to the US Open with her old, new coach Torben Beltz, and was eliminated in the round of the last sixteen. It was a more than decent performance, but nothing from which very high expectations could be drawn. Well, after the frustrating French Open, one thing is clear: Kerber also has to align her perspective to 2021. And like so many long-serving actors hope that it won't be another lost year with restrictions, cancellations and compulsory breaks, a year that would then also bring the bigger farewell closer.