Angelique Kerber clarified that she identifies herself as German, even though she owns a house in Poland, where her parents and grandparents also live.
The 28-year-old Kerber was born in Bremen, Germany, to Polish father Slawomir, and German mother Beata. The new world No. 2, who just won the Australian Open, is playing for Germany in Fed Cup this weekend against Switzerland.
But according to Tenplay.com, Warsaw newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza is questioning her tie to the nation.
“Very often, the media portray Angelique as a German of Polish origin, and that is not true,” the newspaper wrote. “She has a Polish passport, pays taxes in Poland, and her parents are Polish.”
Kerber herself, however, says, "I'm German." Having played for Germany in Fed Cup since 2007, she told Stern TV that in 2012 she moved to Poland to be close to her grandparents. Her grandfather owns the town's tennis center, which is where she learned to play.
"It's true that I now live in Poland and have a relationship with the country, because my parents live there and I have also trained there,” she said. “But I am German. I play for Germany, I grew up in Germany, and my heart beats for Germany … My grandfather has a big influence on me. Without him I wouldn't be where I am now. He has always believed in me, and without both of them I wouldn't have won in Australia.”