Fall and rise
Celebrity, the most coveted currency of the modern era, is overrated. Just ask Angelique Kerber. Her first-hand experience of this truth is informing her 2018 climb back to her best form, and to the semi-finals this Wimbledon.
Two years ago she arrived at her annus mirabilis, capturing Grand Slam titles in Australia and the US, the runner-up spot in SW19, and the year-end No.1 slot to boot. At that time she was 28 – no newcomer to success, with four previous rock-solid years in the top 10. As the oldest debutant at No.1 since Jennifer Capriati 15 years before, she had earned her spurs. Yet by January 2018, she had plummeted out of the top 20.
Nothing alters the public’s ownership of its idols like the leap from second place to first. The demands on that person’s time, and the weapons-grade appetite for vacuous gawping in one form or another, are so vast as to be unquantifiable. It is quite normal that some occupy the spotlight happily, and others find it impossible to relax in its glare. Kerber is among the second group, and her understanding of this principle is among the factors which are the making of her at Wimbledon 2018.
Narrow focus
Examine her press conference transcripts so far this Fortnight, and the material she volunteers is so narrow that it is easy to resort to such go-to adjectives as ‘focused’. That particular f-word is accurate, but in isolation it gives no context. Her new brand of ‘focus’ is rooted in her self-knowledge about what works for her on the biggest stages. So, when faced with the necessary business of media question-and-answer after every match, she has learned to give only as much of herself as she chooses, in order to prosper the most on court.
“I think I learned a lot from the last two years, especially the mental side,” Kerber said, in the wake of her quarter-final victory over Daria Kasatkina. “I am really focusing on my way, on my practices, but also planning my off-court schedule how it works the best for me. So now I know what I have to do on court, but also off court what I have to expect, how I'm dealing with everything around.”
At Wimbledon 2018, Kerber’s self-management is surely working. Whatever the affliction which swallowed up the 10 seeds above her this Fortnight, she has remained immune. Yes, she needed seven match points against rising star Kasatkina, but the hugely-gifted Russian is at the stage of playing without fear, not yet wise enough to understand that time and chance are finite. Nonetheless, Kerber held her nerve, too quick and steady when it mattered the most.
“There are no favourites any more,” said Kerber, when asked about the opportunities opened up by ‘Seedageddon’ this year. “We are in the semis right now. I'm not looking left or right. I'm not looking about at the others. I'm really taking care about my game, about how I play on court. This is all I care about actually, improving my game.”
Meanwhile, it is impossible to overlook that she and coach Wim Fissette began working together at the turn of the year, an alliance which is clearly bearing fruit. Already now assured of the No.9 spot when the updated rankings are released on Monday, Kerber will be No.6 should she make the final, and No.4 if she raises the Venus Rosewater Dish.
Jelena Ostapenko bars her way. Kerber has never played last year’s Roland-Garros champion, and is relishing the prospect.
“It’s a big challenge, and I think the match starts from zero,” she said. “The pressure won’t all be on my side – she’s won a Grand Slam too. Playing the semis is where I put all my focus right now, not on the results I had before, or what might happen. Just about the next match now. We are here, and I’m still in the tournament.”
