After the high of 2016, Angelique Kerber has had a slow start to the new year. So far the German has won four matches but lost three, and to make it worse, she lost her World No.1 ranking to Serena Williams, after the American captured the Australian Open last month.
It’s quite clear that Kerber is yet to hit the high standards she set herself last year, when the 29-year-old became the oldest woman and the first German since Steffi Graf to take the number one spot.
The next two months will be important for Kerber. The left-hander will regain the top ranking if she reaches the final at the Qatar Total Open this week and in Dubai next week.
In March, she will travel to United States, where in Indian Wells and Miami, she will be up against Serena. Ahead of the Qatar Total Open, which begins today, Kerber said while she is keen on reclaiming the No.1 ranking, she is more focused on getting back to the highs of 2016.

Excerpts
Q. What  have you been up to since Australia Open and how you’re feeling heading into the Qatar Open?
A: After Australia I went back home and I spent few days at home, doing nothing actually, just being at home.
It was very cold. But then I started practising again. I came here to Doha little bit earlier to get ready and to get used to the courts and the weather conditions. I’m feeling ready to play again because it’s, since Australia, a long time since I played matches. It’s great to play again here and then in Dubai next week.
Q. How confident are you feeling following the defeat in Australia, the break, and now heading into this and next week’s tournament?
A: Of course, I had like few weeks off where I played matches. But I think it was not bad to get a bigger rest, to get ready for these two tournaments.
I’m feeling good. The first rounds are always a little bit tougher because you have to get used to the tournament feeling again, to the match things.
But, I think that I’m ready. I am really enjoying my tennis right now on the practice court.
Q. How keen are you to get back to being world No. 1?
A: For me it’s really important to play good tennis and to try to improve my game. That is actually my goal always.
I will do my best in the next few weeks, few months. If you play good tennis, then you have results. This is actually for me the most important thing, to win matches again, getting the confidence back. The we will see what happens in the next few months.
Q. When you have a bye in the first round, do you look and see about your possible first-round opponents or do you wait till they win?
A: My coach is watching the match, for sure. Actually, I know everybody. It’s not that I don’t know the girls, the opponents. For sure, when I have the time, when I can watch a little bit, I will maybe watch. But at the end, I know how they are playing. It’s not a big deal.
Q. You have played your possible second round opponent Daria Kasatkina already this year and she beat you. What do you see in her game and what kind of potential do you see in her?
A: I played against her in Sydney. She played a good match. I was not playing my best at that time. She’s a young player and has improved a lot from last year.
It’s always tough to play against the young girls that are coming right now. But I’m looking forward. She’s a tough opponent. If I have the chance to play against her here in Doha, I’m sure it will be a good match.