Angelique Kerber made a decent comeback on the tennis tour, but lost her first match after a baby break of almost a year and a half.
In the German team’s opening game against Italy at the United Cup in Australia, three-time Grand Slam winner Jasmine Paolini was defeated 4:6, 5:7.
Kerber (35) last played a match on the tour in Wimbledon in the summer of 2022. She gave birth to her daughter Liana in February 2023 and has been working hard to return since then.
Kerber got into the game well against Paolini, number 97 in the world, but was only able to partially counter the power tennis of her opponent, who suffered from leg cramps in the second round. Germany fell behind 0-1 due to the defeat in the duel with Italy.
Tennis: Alexander Zverev has to deliver now
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev has to avoid his first defeat in the second singles of the day against Lorenzo Sonego. Laura Siegemund and Maximilian Marterer are registered for the potentially decisive final doubles.
On New Year’s morning France awaits in the fight for a place in the quarter-finals of the United Cup.
The mixed nations competition will be held for the second time as a season opener. 18 teams will compete in Perth and Sydney, after the obligatory two singles matches there will be a potentially decisive mixed doubles.
The first in each of the six groups of three as well as the two best runners-up in the preliminary round qualify for the quarter-finals of the ten million dollar tournament at the beginning of January.