Kerber “back on track”, hungry for more

Reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber believes she has righted the ship following a dip in form in February and March and craves more success.

The world No.3 stunned the tennis world when she beat Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams en route to her first ever Grand Slam title.

Yet following the elation of victory in Melbourne came the somewhat inevitable dip that often follow a player’s breakthrough victory – Kerber promptly bombed in her opening matches of her next two tour events in Doha and Indian Wells.

Kerber showed a return to form in Miami, where she brushed aside the dangerous Madison Keys to reach the semifinals.

And she backed that up with a run to the semis in Charleston – where she was the defending champion – and a solid weekend in Fed Cup play during which she comfortably won both of her singles rubbers.

Back in Stuttgart this week, where she is also the defending champ, Kerber daid she was feeling good about her game.

“I am happy to be back on track. I am ready for the second one,” she said.

“Since last year I know I can do well on clay. I hope for one of the best claycourt seasons.

“I had just two bad tournaments. It was a new situation for me and I had to settle into it.

“There are more duties, its a different attention but I always dreamt of it. It is not getting on my nerves …. I am still the same.”

The No.2 seed in Stuttgart, Kerber receives a first-round bye and opens her campaign against the winner of the match between fellow German Annika Beck and lucky loser Camila Giorgi.