WTA Indian Wells: Angelique Kerber - The "Houdini Act" as the initial spark?
Angelique Kerber achieved her first victory of the current calendar year at the WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells. The mega comeback against Qinwen Zheng should now serve as an initial spark after a messed up start to the season.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit:
Mar 13, 2022, 11:10 am
"In the end I just tried to come back." This is how Angelique Kerber summarized her first appearance at the WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells to the German Press Agency (DPA). The fact that this venture ended with a happy ending for the German was once again thanks to her comeback qualities. Her opponent Qinwen Zheng was already leading 4-1 and a double break in the third set, but thanks to five wins in a row, Kerber ultimately won 6-2, 5-7 and 6-4.
After first-round defeats at the Australian Open and in Doha, the 34-year-old was able to look forward to a match success for the first time in 2022. "I feel good, but of course I needed the weeks and days to get fit again," said Kerber, who was infected with the corona virus in December. It will therefore also take some time before they reach their maximum performance again
Now Kasatkina is waiting
Nevertheless, Kerber speculated on an initial spark after the "Houdini act": "Now I have a match here and I always like to play my way into the tournament. That's why I hope that the next one will be a little better from my side." The three-time Grand Slam winner will contest this against Daria Kasatkina.
The most recent duel between the two also took place in Indian Wells, about five months ago Kerber prevailed in three sets. Overall, the German leads in a direct duel with 5: 4. "It's always very tricky to play against her. She plays very variably. I have to keep at it and dictate myself. I know what's coming," said Kiel before the third round duel.
War in Ukraine employs Kerber
In emotional terms, the world number 16 enters. new territory, however, as Kasatkina is the first opponent from Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. "I try to switch off that on the pitch, which is not that easy. My grandparents are from Poland, and I live in Poland too. It's all very close," explained Kerber.
"It's all really incredibly crazy what's going on in the world right now. I really hope that we'll just get peace. After Corona, now this crazy thing that's happening - madness," said Kerber, shocked by the current developments. Because the war in Europe is also omnipresent in Indian Wells: "Of course everyone is talking about it and you check the news every hour about what's going on - especially me, because we're close and that's not a nice feeling."
Here the individual tableau in Indian Wells
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