Angelique Kerber justified her absence from this year’s edition of the WTA tournament in Berlin with “lack of appreciation”.
“I always like to play in Germany,” said the 34-year-old three-time Grand Slam winner after her third round defeat at the French Open in Paris on Friday: “I won’t play there this year because sometimes the appreciation here and there is missing.”
She would like “other conversations”, added Kerber, she didn’t get any more specific.
17 professionals from the top 20 have registered for the tournament in Berlin from June 11th to 19th. Tournament director in the capital is national coach Barbara Rittner. She couldn’t understand the development.
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“Team Berlin brings Angie Kerber the highest esteem. Of course we want a player like her at our tournament,” said Rittner on “Eurosport”.
She was not personally present at the talks, she added, but announced: “I will call her and keep a wildcard open for her until the last day.”
Kerber plans to start in Bad Homburg (June 18 to 25) in the grass season, where she is the defending champion and co-organizer.
From June 27th she wants to attack in Wimbledon. Kerber won the classic in 2018 and only failed last year in the semi-finals to eventual tournament winner Ashleigh Barty (Australia), who has since resigned.