Asked if she’s made any New Year’s resolutions for 2014, Angelique Kerber doesn’t hesitate. “The most [important] is to be more at home and to spend more time with my friends and with my family,” said the world No.9 after an autograph-signing session with fans. “I think that’s the biggest one for me.”
Having started the long trip from her wintery European base to sun-drenched Brisbane somewhat brutally on Christmas Day, the German is about as far removed from home as you can get in Brisbane.
Yet at the same time, the endlessly pleasant Kerber also feels right at home in the Queensland capital. “I really like Australia. I really love to be here,” she insisted with a smile, explaining that having spent some off-court time checking out Australia’s native animals at the zoo in 2013, she’s enjoyed shopping in the city this time around. “I always look forward to coming here.”
That fondness for Australia will be underlined even further if Kerber, a crafty left-hander, can maintain the form from a consistent 2013, in which she claimed a late-season title in Linz and was a runner-up at two other events. At Brisbane in 2013, she claimed two three-set matches before exiting to Anastasia Pavyluchenkova in the quarterfinals.
Tennis-wise, the biggest priority is to carry over that consistency throughout 2014. “I mean I had a great 2013 and of course the end was very good. I just hope that I can continue this,” she said. “I think I have a great team right now around me so I’m looking forward to playing and starting the season.”
Having opened her Brisbane campaign with a 6-2 6-2 win over promising young Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic, Kerber now meets Pavlyuchenkova in Brisbane’s second round. It’s a tough match-up for the German, who won just one of the three matches they contested in 2013.
One of those matches was a loss to Pavlyuchenkova in the final of Monterrey, Mexico. For Kerber, who was a competitive swimmer before she switched to a tennis career that has so far reaped two Grand Slam semifinals, three career titles and a top five ranking, the motivation to even the score undoubtedly keeps her mind off the family and friends celebrating the New Year far away in Europe.
Not that Kerber should be overly concerned. Judging by the fans lining up for an autograph or photo today, she also has plenty of friends in Brisbane too.