Angelique Kerber facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Angelique Kerber

Kerber at the 2020 Australian Open
Country (sports)	Germany
Residence	Puszczykowo, Poland
Born	(1988-01-18) 18 January 1988 (age 37) Bremen, West Germany
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Turned pro	2003
Retired	July 31, 2024
Plays	Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach	Torben Beltz
Prize money	US$32,519,180 8th in all-time rankings
Official website	angelique-kerber.de
Singles
Career record	683–378 (64.37%) (64.4%)
Career titles	14
Highest ranking	No. 1 (12 September 2016)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	W (2016)
French Open	QF (2012, 2018)
Wimbledon	W (2018)
US Open	W (2016)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	F (2016)
Olympic Games	F (2016)
Doubles
Career record	59–64 (47.97%) (48.0%)
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 103 (26 August 2013)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	1R (2008, 2011, 2012)
French Open	2R (2012)
Wimbledon	3R (2011)
US Open	3R (2012)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	2R (2012)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon	2R (2012)
Other mixed doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	1R (2012)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	F (2014), record 13–12
Hopman Cup	F (2018, 2019)
Medal record Representing  Germany Olympic Games Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro Singles

Angelique Kerber is a German former professional tennis player. She was once ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles. This top ranking was held for 34 weeks by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). She also finished as the year-end No. 1 in 2016.

Angelique won 14 singles titles on the WTA Tour. These include three major championships, also known as Grand Slams. She won the Australian Open and the US Open in 2016. She also won Wimbledon in 2018. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she won a silver medal in women's singles.

Kerber started her professional career in 2003. She became well-known after reaching the semifinals of the 2011 US Open. At that time, she was ranked world No. 92. Angelique is a skilled left-handed player. She first entered the top 5 rankings in 2012. On September 12, 2016, she became world No. 1. She was the 22nd player to reach this top spot. After taking time off for maternity leave, Kerber retired from tennis after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Early Life and Tennis Start

Angelique Kerber was born on January 18, 1988, in Bremen, Germany. Her parents are Sławomir Kerber and Beata. Her mother, Beata, also manages her career. Angelique has one sister named Jessica.

She grew up in Kiel, Germany. Her family lived in an apartment at a tennis training academy. Her parents worked there. Angelique started playing tennis when she was just three years old. She later joined junior tennis competitions. Even though she was born right-handed, she plays tennis with her left hand.

Career Highlights

Rising Through the Ranks (2003–2011)

Angelique Kerber tried to qualify for her first WTA tournament in 2005. This was at the Auckland Open. In 2007, she played in her first main Grand Slam tournament. This was the French Open. She also reached her first WTA quarterfinal in Rosmalen.

She finished 2007 ranked No. 84 in the world. This was her first time ending a season in the top 100. From 2004 to 2007, she won eight titles on the ITF circuit. In 2008, she got her first Grand Slam win at the Australian Open.

In 2010, Kerber reached the third round of a major for the first time. This was at the Australian Open. She also made it to her first WTA final in Bogotá. She finished 2010 ranked No. 47.

Kerber at the 2011 US Open, where she made her first Grand Slam semifinal

In 2011, Kerber had a big breakthrough at the US Open. She was ranked world No. 92. She surprised many by reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal. After this, her ranking jumped to world No. 34. She ended 2011 as world No. 32.

First Titles and Top 5 Debut (2012)

Angelique started 2012 strong. She reached the semifinals at the Auckland Open. At the Australian Open, she was seeded for a Grand Slam for the first time. She made it to the third round.

In Paris, Kerber won her first WTA singles title. She beat top players like Maria Sharapova and Marion Bartoli. She then won her second title at the Danish Open. She defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the final.

Kerber at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, where she reached her second Grand Slam semifinal

Her great results helped her enter the top 10 rankings for the first time. She reached the semifinals at the Indian Wells Open and the Italian Open. At the French Open, she reached the quarterfinals.

At Wimbledon, she made it to her second Grand Slam semifinal. She beat fellow German player Sabine Lisicki. She finished 2012 ranked world No. 5. She had won 60 matches that season.

Consistent Top 10 Player (2013–2014)

In 2013, Kerber continued to play well. She reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. This meant she had reached the second week of all four Grand Slams. She also made it to the semifinals at the Indian Wells Open.

She reached her first final of 2013 in Monterrey. She also had strong results on clay courts. She helped Germany get back into the Fed Cup World Group. She reached the semifinals in Stuttgart and the quarterfinals in Madrid. At the French Open, she made the fourth round.

During the Asian tournaments, Kerber's form improved. She reached her second final of 2013 at the Pan Pacific Open. She then won her third career title at the Linz Open. This win helped her qualify for the WTA Tour Championships. She finished 2013 as world No. 9.

Kerber at the 2014 Nuremberg Cup

In 2014, Kerber started with good results in Brisbane and Sydney. She reached the final in Sydney. She also made the fourth round of the Australian Open. In Fed Cup, she helped Germany reach the final.

She reached her second final of 2014 at the Qatar Open. She also made her first quarterfinal in Miami. On grass, she reached the final in Eastbourne. At Wimbledon, she made the quarterfinals. She beat Maria Sharapova there.

She reached her fourth final of the year in Stanford. She finished 2014 ranked world No. 10. She also played in the Fed Cup final for Germany.

Winning Streak and More Titles (2015)

Kerber started 2015 with good runs in Brisbane and Sydney. However, she lost in the first round of the Australian Open. This was her first first-round Grand Slam loss since 2011. She also helped Germany reach the Fed Cup semifinals.

In April, she won her fourth WTA title at the Charleston Open. This was her first title on clay. She then won her fifth career title in Stuttgart. This was her first title on home soil. She extended her winning streak on clay to 11 matches.

Kerber at the 2015 Italian Open

On grass, she won the title at the Birmingham Classic. This was her sixth career title and her first on grass. This was the first time she won more than two titles in a season. At Wimbledon, she reached the third round.

She won her seventh career title in Stanford. This made her the only player to win titles on all surfaces in 2015. She finished the year as world No. 10. She also qualified for the WTA Finals for the third time.

Grand Slam Champion and World No. 1 (2016)

Kerber began 2016 by reaching the final at the Brisbane International. She then had a huge success at the Australian Open. She saved a match point in the first round. She went on to win her first Grand Slam title. She beat the world No. 1, Serena Williams, in the final. This made her the first German Grand Slam winner since 1999. Her ranking rose to world No. 2.

Kerber at the 2016 US Open, where she won the second of her two Grand Slam titles that year, and sealed the world No. 1 ranking

She successfully defended her title in Stuttgart. This was her second title of the year and ninth overall. At Wimbledon, she reached the final again. She lost to Serena Williams in a close match.

At the Rio Olympics, she won a silver medal. She reached the gold medal match. At the US Open, Kerber won her second Grand Slam title. She beat Karolína Plíšková in the final. This win also made her the new world No. 1. She took over the top spot from Serena Williams.

She finished 2016 as the year-end world No. 1. She also reached the final of the WTA Finals.

Challenges and Comeback (2017–2018)

Kerber at the 2017 Fed Cup World Group Play-offs against Ukraine

In 2017, Kerber faced some challenges. As the defending champion at the Australian Open, she lost in the fourth round. Serena Williams then took back the world No. 1 ranking. Kerber briefly regained the No. 1 spot in March.

At the French Open, she became the first top seed to lose in the first round. At Wimbledon, she reached the fourth round. She finished 2017 ranked world No. 21. She also changed coaches, hiring Wim Fissette.

Kerber at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships, where she won her third and most recent Grand Slam title

Kerber had a strong start to 2018. She won the Sydney International. This was her first title in over a year. At the Australian Open, she reached the semifinals. She returned to the top 10 rankings.

She reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and Miami. At the French Open, she made it to the quarterfinals again. This was her best result there since 2012.

At Wimbledon, Kerber was the 11th seed. She played Serena Williams in the final again. This time, Kerber won in straight sets. This was her third Grand Slam title. With this win, she became one Grand Slam away from a career Grand Slam. She also returned to world No. 4. She finished 2018 as world No. 2. She also started working with a new coach, Rainer Schüttler.

Later Career and Pregnancy Break (2019–2023)

In 2019, Kerber reached the final at Indian Wells. She lost to young player Bianca Andreescu. At Wimbledon, as the defending champion, she lost in the second round. This caused her to fall out of the top 10. She then parted ways with her coach.

Kerber at the 2020 Australian Open

She finished 2019 as world No. 20. In 2020, she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. The tennis season was then paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She reunited with her former coach, Torben Beltz, in July 2020. She finished 2020 ranked world No. 25.

In 2021, Kerber faced challenges due to quarantine rules. However, she found her form on grass courts. She won the inaugural Bad Homburg Open. This was her first title since Wimbledon in 2018.

Kerber at the 2021 Bad Homburg Open, where she won her first title since Wimbledon in 2018

At Wimbledon, she reached the semifinals for the fourth time. She lost to world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty. She also had a strong run at the Cincinnati Open. She played her 1000th professional match there. She returned to the top 10 rankings in November 2021.

In 2022, Kerber had to miss some tournaments due to illness. She reached the fourth round at Indian Wells. In May, she won her 14th career title in Strasbourg. This was her first outdoor clay title. At Wimbledon, she lost in the third round. On August 24, 2022, she announced she was taking a break from tennis due to pregnancy. She gave birth to a daughter in 2023. She became unranked in 2023.

Return to Tennis and Retirement (2024)

After a break of a year and a half, Kerber returned to the tour in 2024. She played at the 2024 United Cup in Australia. She won her first match since Wimbledon 2022. Team Germany went on to win the tournament. She then played at the Australian Open.

She reached the fourth round at Indian Wells in March 2024. This included a win over a top-10 player. She also played at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.

On July 25, 2024, Angelique Kerber announced her retirement from professional tennis. Her last match was on July 31, 2024, at the Paris Olympics. She reached the quarterfinals there.

Playing Style

Kerber's squatting backhand position

Angelique Kerber is known for her defensive style of play. She is very fast and agile on the court. She uses her speed to return many shots. She tries to make her opponents make mistakes.

Her forehand is considered her strongest shot. She can hit powerful shots with tricky angles. She often hits winners with her forehand down the line. Her backhand is hit while she squats down. This helps her create strong angles.

Her serve is sometimes seen as a weaker part of her game. She doesn't hit many aces. However, she is excellent at returning serves. She is one of the best returners on the WTA Tour. Kerber plays best when she is aggressive. Her favorite surface to play on is grass. She has also had a lot of success on hard courts.

Personal Life

Angelique Kerber lives in Puszczykowo, Poland. Her grandfather owned an indoor tennis center there.

She speaks German, Polish, and English. She has dual German-Polish citizenship. She has always played for Germany. She considers herself German.

Kerber is a big fan of football. Her favorite team is FC Bayern Munich. She has said that former German tennis player Steffi Graf was her childhood idol. Steffi Graf inspired her to play tennis.

Angelique is Catholic. She has said that faith is important to her. She believes in Christian values and in herself.

On August 24, 2022, Kerber announced her pregnancy. She took a break from tennis. She gave birth to a daughter in 2023. The father of her child is Franco Bianco.

Endorsements

Kerber has many endorsement deals. These are agreements with companies to promote their products. Her clothing and shoe sponsor is Adidas. Her racquet sponsor is Yonex.

She became a global ambassador for Stuttgart car manufacturer Porsche in 2015. She also signed deals with insurance group Generali and cosmetics company Bare Minerals. In 2017, she became an ambassador for Slim Secrets snacks. She also partnered with Swiss luxury watchmaker Rolex and software company SAP.

Kerber is also an ambassador for the children's charity UNICEF. She has also worked with Head and Shoulders Suprême and Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen jewelry. In 2019, she became the tournament ambassador for the Bad Homburg Open.

Because of her many deals, she was the second highest-paid female athlete in the world in 2017. This was according to Forbes magazine.

Coaches

Angelique Kerber has worked with several coaches. These include Torben Beltz (at different times), Wim Fissette, Rainer Schüttler, and Dieter Kindlmann. She reunited with Torben Beltz in July 2020. They worked together until November 2021.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Singles Performance

Grand Slam Finals

Singles: 4 (3 Titles, 1 Runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2016	Australian Open	Hard	Serena Williams	6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Loss	2016	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	5–7, 3–6
Win	2016	US Open	Hard	Karolína Plíšková	6–3, 4–6, 6–4
Win	2018	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	6–3, 6–3

WTA Championships Finals

Singles: 1 (Runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2016	WTA Finals, Singapore	Hard (i)	Dominika Cibulková	3–6, 4–6

Olympic Finals

Singles: 1 (Silver Medal)

Result	Year	Location	Surface	Opponent	Score
Silver	2016	Rio Summer Olympics	Hard	Monica Puig	4–6, 6–4, 1–6

Awards and Recognition

Angelique Kerber has received many awards for her tennis achievements:

• WTA Player of the Year (2016)
• German Sportswoman of the Year (2016, 2018)
• US Open Sportsmanship Award (2016)
• ITF World Champion (2016)
• Nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year (2016)
• Named among espnW's Impact25 (2016)
• Named among "Europe's 30 under 30" by Forbes (2017)
• World's second highest-paid female athlete by Forbes (2017)
• Nominated 2018 WTA Player of the Year

See also

In Spanish: Angelique Kerber para niños