Only a short time after becoming a mother to her second child, Angelique Kerber is back on court albeit unlike last time not in a professional sense. She played the Luxembourg Ladies Masters exhibition over the weekend scooping the title.
Kerber gave birth to her son Ben to join the family alongside Liana, her daughter who was born two years ago back in June but as she jested on social media she went from full-time mum to part-time tennis player as she returned to the court to play in the Masters exhibition type circuit mainly featuring top stars who have now retired.
Alize Cornet perhaps can't be construed as that given she played the tour mere months ago after initially retiring but she was defeated in the final by Kerber. In the Quarter-Finals, Cornet had seen off Kim Clijsters who had to retire after rupturing her Achilles tendon and, as a result, had to undergo surgery.
Anett Kontaveit, the former World No.2 was also in tow and saw off Anabel Medina Garrigues in her opener. Kontaveit and Cornet met in the semi-finals with a 6–4, 6–3 for the Frenchwoman. While for Kerber in reaching the final, it was Kirsten Flipkens first up with the multiple Grand Slam champion being top seed against the Belgian and winning 6-3, 6-4.
Barbora Strycova awaited with Kerber winning 6-4, 7-5. The Czech ace had just beaten Eugenie Bouchard who only retired recently and is the youngest of the bunch at 31 but Kontaveit too of course retired a lot earlier than expected.
Due to injury mainly but shows that age is no barrier when it comes to a career coming to an unfortunate end. A thrilling final ensued as Kerber won 1–6, 6–3, [10–7] winning it in a tie-break after losing the first set easily.
"So nice to be back on court, feeling the thrill of a match again — and being welcomed with so much warmth here in Luxembourg. Also quite fun to switch from my full-time mom job to part-time tennis player for a few days…and to top it off, taking home the trophy. Grateful, happy, and already looking forward to what’s next," wrote Kerber on Instagram in sealing the win.
Kerber returned to the tour last year before retiring mere months later in a similar vein to Petra Kvitova. She couldn't get the results and wasn't back to her best throughout. She reached the fourth round of Indian Wells, scooped the United Cup but aside from that it was a bit of a slog for the German who once had so much but also at the end of her tenure before she became a mother for the first time, she was on the slide anyway.
Kerber announced following that run that she would retire from tennis at the Olympic Games and she nearly got a medal reaching the Quarter-Finals and only losing to eventual gold medalist Zheng Qinwen.
"The finish line," said Kerber on social media. "Before the Olympics begin, I can already say that I will never forget Paris 2024, because it will be my last professional tournament as a tennis player.
"And whereas this might actually be the right decision, it will never feel that way. Simply because I love the sport with all my heart and I'm thankful for the memories and opportunities it has given me."
While these tournaments now aren't exactly the Olympic Games, Kerber will hope it will scratch the itch she doesn't get from playing on tour due to the results not going her way. This weekend they did.
Results Luxembourg Ladies Masters
Quarter-finals
- Alizé Cornet (FRA) def. Kim Clijsters (BEL) [2] 6–0, 2–1 ret.
- Anett Kontaveit (EST) [4] def. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 6–1, 6–3
- Angelique Kerber (GER) [1] def. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6–3, 6–4
- Barbora Strycova (CZE) def. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) [3] 4–6, 6–2, [10–7]
Semi-finals
- Alizé Cornet (FRA) def. Anett Kontaveit (EST) [4] 6–4, 6–3
- Angelique Kerber (GER) [1] def. Barbora Strycova (CZE) 6–4, 7–5
Final
- Angelique Kerber (GER) [1] def. Alizé Cornet (FRA) 1–6, 6–3, [10–7]
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
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