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via Reuters

via Reuters

It has been over a year since former world number one Angelique Kerber played her last professional match, but the three-time Grand Slam champion is planning a comeback to tennis in 2024. In an interview, German tennis legend Boris Becker expressed his excitement about Kerber’s return. In her prime, Kerber won the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon titles. Her fans will be hoping that she soon hits such high levels, including Becker.

“It’s unbelievably great news that the last German number one, the last German Wimbledon champion is coming back,” said Becker. He then went on to express his views on successful comebacks by providing the examples of Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters. However, along with this, Becker also opened up about a challenge that Kerber is likely to face.

Boris Becker opens up about Angelique Kerber’s impending to the WTA Tour

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At 35 years of age, Angelique Kerber will be defying expectations by mounting a comeback. Ahead of her anticipated comeback, Becker believes she is still young enough physically to compete at the top level. “Kerber is at an age ‘where it is still physically possible,'” noted the former world number one during his appearance in the podcast Das Gelbe vom Ball. The bigger question, according to Becker, is whether Kerber still has the mental toughness and resilience required.

“Does she have the patience, does she have the perseverance? Does she have the nerve to accept one or two defeats at the beginning and then have match practice with a view to the grass season?” questioned Boris Becker.

Coming back to the professional tour on the back of a long absence and childbirth is extremely demanding. Becker, while focusing on the same, highlighted how another legendary name made a comeback to the sport after starting a family and it wasn’t Serena Williams.

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Becker backs Angelique Kerber’s ability with Wozniacki example

Fans will be eager to see how Kerber performs when she makes her comeback next season. Becker expressed his belief in his compatriot by giving the example of Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane made an impressive comeback to professional tennis this season, reaching the round of 16 in the US Open. Talking about the same, Becker said, “She (Wozniacki) is the mother of two children and played a fantastic US Open. So it’s possible. Her (Kerber) return would be a huge boost for German tennis, which has been lacking in results from its female players in recent years.”

via Imago

While questions remain about how Kerber’s game may have evolved during her time away, her history of success proves that, when at her best, she can compete with the elites. It now remains to be seen if she has the motivation and mental strength to climb back to the top of the women’s game.

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