“Tennis is not the top priority right now” Angelique Kerber speaks of personal struggles amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Russia War


“Tennis is not the top priority right now” Angelique Kerber speaks of personal struggles amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Russia War

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Angelique Kerber, Russia's President Vladimir Putin

World No. 16 Angelique Kerber has made her way into the 4th round of the 2022 Indian Wells Open after a straight-set win over Daria Kasatkina. Kerber won the match 6-2, 6-1 to pick up her 2nd win of the season having lost her first two games of the season. Kerber had received a bye in the first round and her win over Qinwen Zheng in the second round was her first win of the season.

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With the war between Ukraine and Russia well into its second week, the entire world has been shaken by it and Kerber is no different to it. Despite being German, the war has affected the 3-time Grand Slam champion and she opened up about her struggles in coping with the war.

Angelique Kerber speask on playing against a Russian player

Angelique Kerber vs Daria Kasatkina
Angelique Kerber vs Daria Kasatkina

With tennis governing bodies suspending the Russian Tennis Federations, the Russian players are now neutral athletes playing without any flag next to their name. Kerber’s third-round opponent, Daria is one such ‘neutral’ athlete and Kerber in her post-match interview spoke about the emotions of playing against a player hailing from Russia.

“I tried to really put that out of my mind. I’ve known Daria for a while now and I put that out of my mind. After the pandemic-or rather during the ongoing pandemic-tennis for me is still number two. Right now, there are many more important issues in the world. People are fleeing, the whole situation that’s topic number one and is frightening to everyone. As I’ve said, I don’t live far from the situation. My grandparents are there and so of course you’re checking the news every five minutes or every hour, you’re in touch with folks.

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“I think right now that’s the topic that is occupying my mind and everyone else here. For me, tennis continues to be second, third, or fourth in my life. I try in this situation to just concentrate on the match. I have ok success with that, but I try to flip that switch very late. An hour before the match, it’s not like I’m fully focused and in a match headspace. It’s a little different than it was,” said Kerber in comments reported by Anita Stahl.

“There was never a question” Angelique Kerber on sporting a ribbon with Ukrainian colours

Angelique Kerber
Angelique Kerber

With athletes trying their best to show support towards Ukraine, many have adopted different ways to highlight it. Ukrainian players like Elina Svitolina and Dayana Yastremska wore Blue and Yellow outfits during their matches while Iga Swiatek asked her colleagues to pin a ribbon that had Ukraine’s national flag colours, a method used by Kerber as well.

“For me, it’s a big subject and as players, we talk. What’s happening now, nobody expected that this would be an issue the way we were living. You can tell peoples’ thoughts are elsewhere. I try to come to the tournament site and leave again. I try not to hang around too much, no matter what. I try to do my thing and sometimes practice off-site, which I’ve always done and is good for me here. I know my way around the area after all these years. I try to keep my rhythm.

“For me, tennis is not the top priority right now. There are so many other topics that are of more importance right now and then you want to be in touch with family. It’s difficult enough with the time difference. I’m really not putting my tennis first right now, there is so much more than that. And the decision I think is a normal one.

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“If I’m playing a night match, I can’t start focusing on that in the morning and then forget the rest of the world, it doesn’t work that way. There was never any question (wearing a ribbon). I planned to wear one for the first match, but the back of the pin broke. I will wear it in the next match too,” said Kerber further.

Also Read: “Be able to tolerate it” A sympathetic Andy Murray advises Naomi Osaka to toughen up after she was heckled at the Indian Wells