Tennis: Kerber consigns 2017 to the history books

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Angelique Kerber has turned the page on a horror 2017 season and is focused firmly on making a fresh start to her career, the German said after sailing into the second round at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.

Tennis: Kerber consigns 2017 to the history books

(Reuters)





The 29-year-old enjoyed a bumper 2016, winning the Australian and U.S. Opens, picking up an Olympic silver medal and becoming the first German number one since Steffi Graf.

Her form, however, deserted her last year when she failed to win back-to-back matches at 13 events and made just one final, at Monterrey, to finish the year at number 22.

"You know, I think last year I will actually not speak about this anymore," she told reporters after defeating fellow German Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-0 6-4 at the Hisense Arena.

"I mean, last year was really not the best year, everybody knows, and it was a lot of new experience. But I'm also thankful about all the things, because I think I'm growing ..."

Kerber signalled her resurgence with her triumph at the Sydney International on Saturday and was optimistic about 2018 following her flawless start to the new season.

"I think so far it was a good season, the start of the good season, and I'm just trying to playing every single match each.

"I'm not trying to focusing too much on ahead, on past, or what's happened in the last year. I'm just trying to really restart again and try to enjoy my tennis again..."

Kerber will take on Donna Vekic of Croatia in her next match.





(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford)


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world