Angelique Kerber has two goals in life – win a grand slam, and become the top women’s player in the world. Kerber had accomplished the former after winning the Australian Open this year against Serena Williams. Now, the world number two has her sights on the latter and beating the current world number one is a good start achieving her second goal.
“Serena is always the best player in the world. She wins almost all the tournaments she plays. She is much too far away for me, I do not want to think about it, but if the occasion arises…,” Kerber said.
Kerber On Fed Cup Tie Against Switzerland
But at the moment, the German has her focus on helping her country in their upcoming Fed Cup tie against Switzerland this weekend, a week after winning her first Australian Open title. “It was always clear that I would come here. It is always a big honor for me (to play in the Fed Cup),” Kerber said during press conference in Leipzig, Germany.
Kerber is joined by Andrea Petkovic, Annika Beck, and Anna-Lena Gronefeld to represent Germany. This is the seventh year Kerber has participated in the Fed Cup where she’s always have competed in the singles.
But the team’s captain Barbara Rittner said Kerber's participation in the tournament will be decided during the tournament. “We must tick off this great event and focus on the weekend. That will be deciding,” Rittner said. Germany is looking to capture their first Fed Cup title in 24 years
Kerber On Her Hero’s Welcome And Family Celebrations
Kerber received a hero’s welcome from friends, fans, and journalists when she arrived back home in Germany. Kerber became the first German to win a major since Steffi Graf won Roland Garros in 1999, and the first to win the major in Melbourne since Graf won it in 1994.
"Arriving here after having won a Slam is something special. It is a dream that becomes reality,” Kerber said. “I slept 25 hours; many people welcomed me in the airplane, in the airport, everywhere. I took a lot of photos. It seems to me that everyone recognizes me. I am so happy; I am looking forward to find out what I will do in the next days."
Hours after Kerber arrived in Frankfurt on Monday, the WTA released the new rankings where the German moved four spots to claim the number two spot. It’s her new career high. The German then flew to the city of Posen and drove to Puszczykowo, a town where she and her grandparents live.
"We'll celebrate there with some sparkling wine. I am really looking forward to getting home," Kerber said. "My family have always stood by me and given me strength, even in moments when I didn't believe in myself." Kerber won’t have much time with her family with the Fed Cup tie on the weekend.