Angelique Kerber admits that being out of action is “something completely new” to her but underlined that being out because of pregnancy is probably the nicest reason for one to take a break from tennis.
After missing WTA 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati, Kerber announced she was pregnant and out of the US Open.
For the first time in over a decade, Kerber missed out on a Grand Slam tournament.
“I haven’t missed a Grand Slam in the last 13 years. It’s why the present situation is something completely new for me. There isn’t a nicer reason for taking a break from tennis. I’ll be trying to use the time for myself as best I can. I’m continuing to do sport to stay fit and am still playing tennis. Sport just happens to belong to my life. But I naturally won’t be overdoing things. I’ve got lots of experience and know exactly what’s good for me and what’s not,” Kerber told the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix website.
Kerber on how it felt following the US Open on TV
The US Open is a very special tournament for Kerber, having won her second Grand Slam title there in 2016.
For the first time in a long time, three-time Grand Slam champion Kerber was in the position to follow a Major from the comfort of her home.
‟It’s a totally different perception to the one you get when you’re standing on court yourself. When you watch a match from the beginning to the end then you see more details and can better analyze certain situations. For one or the other players, I now know far better what I have to look out for should I face them again,” Kerber explained.
Kerber, 34, last played at Wimbledon, where she suffered a third-round defeat to Elise Mertens.
Kerber is expected to return to action at some point during the 2023 season.