Dubai: The home page on her official website has messages like ‘keep going forward', ‘never look back' and ‘live your dream' and one can see why.
She just won her first WTA Tour title in Paris last week, has reached the semi-finals or better in seven of her last 10 tournaments, reached the semis of the 2011 US Open and is a member of the fast-rising German quartet.
Meet Angelique Kerber, ranked 22 in the world and considered by her peers as a player to watch out for. In Doha, soon after her Open GDF Suez exploits, Kerber still had the energy to outlast compatriot Sabine Lisicki and move into round two.
And in an exclusive interview to XPRESS ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, the left-hander with the angelic name and a brutal game said that she believes she has the game to hurt the top players,
"I feel very good about that [making semis or better in seven of her last 10 tournaments]. I now know that I can play with top players. I now believe more in myself than maybe half a year ago," she said, adding: "It was a little bit difficult after my first title last week. Of course I am very happy about that. It was not easy to prepare for Doha, I was trying to focus on me and my game, fighting...and well..I am still here."
Kerber who got Germany their only win in the 4-1 defeat to Czech Republic earlier this month, shares a healthy rivalry with team mates Lisicki and Petkovic, having had the better of the duo most of the times they have met.
"She's [Lisicki] a great player. I know her very well. I am very happy that I won," she said following her 4-6 6-4 6-1 victory.
As for Petkovic, currently the top-ranked German at 10 and ahead of Lisicki at 14, Julia Georges at 21 and Kerber at 22, she's also been at the receiving end of Kerber's surge and had even suggested that her 24-year-old countrywoman would be the one to watch out for at the 2011 US Open. How right her prophecy proved!
"It's very good Petkovic knew that. I was practising with her before the US Open. She saw that I was playing well, preparing well. We are close friends, still practise together. I hope she will come back well [from injury]," she said.
As for her rivalry with Petkovic which too is lop-sidedly in Kerber's favour, she said: "Yes, I am her toughest opponent for sure. Now I know how to do it. I focus on myself and not focus on opponents. I think I am ready now."
