Less than a year after retiring from professional tennis and just weeks after announcing her second pregnancy, former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber is stepping into a new leadership role. The three-time Grand Slam champion will serve as the sporting director of the Bad Homburg Open, a prestigious WTA 500 grass-court tournament in her home country.
Kerber’s last competitive match was a quarterfinal loss to eventual gold medalist Zheng Qinwen at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Since then, she has embraced major life changes, recently sharing that her two-year-old daughter, Liana, will soon have a sibling. However, her passion for tennis remains strong, and she is eager to continue shaping the sport in Germany. Working alongside tournament director Aljoscha Thron—her long-time manager—Kerber aims to bring her extensive experience to the event.
“The tournament was a project of the heart for me from the outset,” Kerber said. “I know what the players need. Some work will be awaiting me.”
Kerber has memorable experiences at the tournament, winning it in its inaugural year in 2021, with a triumph over Katerina Siniakova in the final. In 2025, the tournament will be staged for the fifth time, the second year in a row as a WTA 500 event. Besides Kerber, past champions include Caroline Garcia, Karolina Siniakova, and last year’s winner Diana Shnaider.
The 2025 Bad Homburg Open is set to take place from June 22 to June 28. (photo: Jimmie48)
