"Now a little person in my life that's more important than tennis" admits Angelique Kerber ahead of Stuttgart return

The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is Angelique Kerber's first tournament in Germany since the birth of her daughter Liana. Before that, she will be playing with Porsche Team Germany in the Billie Jean King Cup in Brazil.

In an interview with the Porsche Newsroom, the Porsche brand ambassador talks about her comeback, the challenges of being a mother on the tennis tour and the anticipation of returning to the Porsche Arena.

“The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix has a quite special flair. It’s something I missed a lot last year. I have lots of wonderful memories of the tournament and am looking forward to playing my best tennis in front of the fantastic spectators in the Porsche Arena," she said to Porsche.

But before that, she will play in Brazil. Something that she will have to get used to with a 12-hour flight time. “As far as the travel stress is concerned, Brazil is definitely not a lucky draw for us. But we have to see things positively and try to make the best out of it. The real challenge is the 12-hour return flight and then having to get back on court one or two days later at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. It’s going to be difficult with the time change and the jetlag. But who knows, perhaps I’ll have one or two good matches on clay in São Paulo and will therefore come to Stuttgart on a high.”

Kerber admits that patience isn't a strength in regards to returning to her best. But that she now has a different focus in her life so tennis is no longer at the forefront. “Patience isn’t really one of my strengths. But I knew that it would take a bit of time before I started playing well and getting back to my former level. I still love tennis, but I’m first and foremost a mother with my whole heart, and it’s a joy. There’s now a little person in my life that’s more important than tennis. It makes it easier to be patient.”

“I’m so grateful that she copes so well with the flights, time changes and the climate. She just gets on with it all. As a mother on tour, you have to be very flexible and spontaneous as you can’t plan everything weeks in advance. You can only take things day by day and you have to keep reorganising everything.”

Also coming to Stuttgart off the back of a run to the Last 16 of Indian Wells, it was a big boost. “Everything simply clicked. As I said before, after such a long break, you need time and patience. I knew full well that if I work hard then success will also come at some stage. That moment arrived in Indian Wells. I saw that I’m on the right track and that I can also beat top players again. It’s given me a lot of confidence.”