An after-dark #AusOpen champion's practice session 🌃 #AO2021
Angelique Kerber like many others underwent hard quarantine upon arrival but the veteran handled it better than most ahead of the AO.
It wasn't the way she envisioned her stay in Australia upon arrival but the former world number one maintained a positive outlook despite the difficult circumstances. It helped her put things into perspective diminishing the pressure:
“For sure I don't have any pressure right now … I was prepared really good. I practised a lot, but now I took my pressure out, my expectation, everything."
Kerber is entering this event relaxed understanding the situation around the world and she is just looking to do her best and play the sport she loves:
“Of course it was not the plan, how I planned the trip to Australia. On the other side, I can just try to do the best now. I can enjoy the sport even more than before, I think. I will really put my pressure out and just try to play as good as I can in this tournament.”
Playing in front of the fans is something she enjoys and she said that was the reason she was in Australia, to be able to play but also to play in front of fans:
“Of course, I'm so looking forward to play again in front of the crowds, in front of the fans. This is also the motivation I have. That's why I'm here – to play again in front of the fans. That's why, yeah, I was practicing a lot the last few weeks (before arriving).”