She did it!
Tennis star Angelique Kerber (34) released her bio on Thursday. “A question of will” is the title of the 222 pages. In BILD, the three-time Grand Slam winner talks about her debut work, which is not just about Wimbledon, but above all insights into the emotional life of a professional tennis player.
BILD: Why the book now, when your career isn’t over yet and important events like the birth of your child are yet to come?
Kerber: “I was taking notes before the pandemic, because I had plans to write a book at some point and share my experience of the ups and downs of my career. So far it has been a long, sometimes rocky road. So I thought, why should I wait Until the end? Sure, I’ll be back and that will be a new story. But I’ve written a lot about crises, doubts and successes. Then I said to myself: now I have time, so why not now? “
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BILD: How did you approach the task?
Kerber: “I was very worried about this. I had notes and the last few months have been intense from morning to night, flipping through the book to see what I wanted in it. I could have written 500 more pages at the end, but I wanted to bring in what I have. it made it different, what good and bad times gave me to get to where I am today. And it should be a thank you to my team and my fans. “
BILD: What can the reader expect?
Kerber: “It was very important to me for a message to arrive. Whether it’s an athlete or anyone else struggling with ups and downs on their way. I talked a lot about my crises, my emotions, my thoughts, Wimbledon, how it all started. It was important for me to say that you had to believe in your dreams no matter what. It would be nice if everyone could take something from the book with them ”.
BILD: Have you read the biographies of the tennis stars yourself?
Kerber: “Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, so many. But not only by tennis players, but also by Michelle Obama, for example. You take something with you, but I already knew exactly how I wanted to put my book together ”.
BILD: Of the many people you’ve met so far, who has impressed you the most?
Kerber: “Barack Obama, definitely Obama. His charisma was really impressive. It was amazing how calm and relaxed he was when we met at the US Embassy in Berlin. We dined in small groups and were able to talk longer, we had two or three hours. We talked about politics, even sports, or mundane things like how he manages his travels. It was incredibly impressive. “
Here’s what it looks like, the biography of Angelique Kerber
BILD: Your win at Wimbledon 2018 runs like a red thread in the book. What distinguishes this success from the other two Grand Slam victories in Melbourne and New York?
Kerber: “As you said, Wimbledon is the common thread and in a way it also runs through my life. I’ve had Wimbledon in mind since I was a kid, inspired by Steffi Graf and Boris Becker. Everyone knew Wimbledon even in kindergarten. It’s just a term. I also experienced a lot in the tournament: from the best moment at Center Court to defeats in the first round. So this is the structure of my story ”.
BILD: How do you see the Australian Open and the US Open compared?
Kerber: “Without Australia I would not have handled all the other things, that was the initial spark. Then to become number 1 in New York in connection with the second Grand Slam success. So every tournament has its own story.”
BILD: You’ve already mentioned your seizures. The biggest was probably in 2017 when nothing was happening.
Kerber: “Yes, no one was waiting for me anymore. Then everyone canceled me, saying I would quit and it no longer made sense. Fighting to get out of there, which is the message for everyone for me, believing in your dream, was important to me. It wasn’t about rankings or points anymore, it was just about getting the best out of me again, pushing my limits and winning Wimbledon anyway. Not out of nowhere, but out of crisis. “
BILD: What moment on July 14, 2018, when you won the final against Serena Williams, will remain forever in your memory?
Kerber: “When I converted the match point. hundred percent. That was the first moment I thought: Wow, is this really happening ?! And when I raised the bowl. Just goosebumps. Until then, I hadn’t really allowed myself to think about winning. Especially because I knew Serena and I knew that the match would not be over until the last ball was transformed. “
Angelique Kerber and BILD reporter Sebastian Kayser met at the Hotel Adlon in Berlin
BILD: Many people say that when you write a book, everything has to be in it. In your bio, you reveal almost nothing about your private life. How come?
Kerber: “This is the reference point for me. I will continue to separate the private from the personal. This is important to me, also because I want to protect the people around me. So I remain true to my line. In the book I wanted to convey this other message as well. I have already described. But it is clear that I would not be where I am today without my family. Without the support I would not have had the strength to carry on. I am infinitely grateful for this, which I hope you will find in the book. It is about my personal journey, thoughts, emotions “.
BILD: What do you want to protect your environment from?
Kerber: “Not everyone wants to show themselves and I know that. So she will stay that way. “
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BILD: There are two greats left with Serena Williams and Roger Federer.
Kerber: Yes, Roger has had an incredible career and will remain loyal to tennis. I also wrote Serena. But with her, I think anything is possible. “
BILD: So even that you play again, like you just mentioned?
Kerber: “Good question! Anything is probably possible. But I can understand how difficult the decision is to stop your passion, with what you love. It is not easy to replace and is probably the most difficult decision in an athlete’s career when you realize that you can no longer reach the highest level, your body is not doing very well and then the new generation arrives. Serena played well in New York. .
One of the last public appearances of the pregnant Angelique Kerber: the opera ball in Leipzig
BILD: You write in the book that you wanted to quit in 2011 when you were losing. Was it typical for you to throw it away?
Kerber: “Not at all. Usually it wasn’t me. I’m a person who sees things to the end, even in school, where I didn’t like everything either. I’ve always been a perfectionist. If I didn’t like my writing, I just rewritten. But 2011 was a tough time. I was knocked out on the first round 11 times in a row, threatening to break out of the top 100. At that moment I felt it didn’t make sense anymore. I haven’t picked up a racket for weeks, but then my character came back and it was in my head: I want it. Almost a matter of will. And here we are at the title of the book. So at a certain point I arrived and then I had my turning point with the semifinals of the US Open in 2011.
BILD: Did you feel depressed?
Kerber: “No, absolutely not. It has never been like this. For me it is very important to underline it”.
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BILD: Torben Beltz made you number 1, took you to your first two Grand Slam titles, was your coach three times. Will there be a fourth time?
Kerber: (laughs): “Never say never! I think now he’s happy with Anett Kontaveit. It’s a come and go tour. If you think you can’t go any further, then a new voice can help, and it does.”
BILD: You write about your big disappointment at the latest breakup. Is it more likely to stay than the many joint successes?
Kerber: “When you break up, there is always disappointment in the beginning. But I always try to bring the positive with me and as a result I have taken on more responsibility. Maybe it should be, that’s fine. All successes with Torben remain and will always connect us. We know each other so well that it will always be a friendship. “
For years the guarantor of the success of Angelique Kerber: the former trainer Torben Beltz. He is currently in charge of Estonian Anett Kontaveit
BILD: You definitely want to play until the 2024 Olympics. In Paris they play on clay that you don’t like at all. Do they really want to quit a clay court tournament?
Kerber: “I never said the Olympics were over. Olympia is just the main goal coming up. The challenge of playing the Olympics on clay fascinates me. But it doesn’t have to end.”
BILD: Jule Niemeier is the new German number 1. How far can she go?
Kerber: “She is very hardworking and disciplined. She can play really well! If she keeps the level constant, I trust her a lot. But dealing with the pressure of being compared to others, or sometimes to myself, isn’t always easy. But if she goes her way, she’s good for a surprise or two. “
Jule Niemeier is Angelique Kerber’s successor as the best German tennis player. The Dortmund native is currently number 66 in the world
BILD: What would Niemeier need from you to become a world leader?
Kerber: “It’s hard to say, but to get to the top of the world you need that real determination and get to the finish line. What Iga Swiatek does so incredibly well. Focus 1000 percent on the goal with all the consequences. “
BILD: And what would you have liked to have from Niemeier? Maybe the service?
Kerber: “Oh yes, the service, yes. Otherwise I am quite satisfied and at peace with myself”.
