Angelique Kerber has sweet message for daughter Liana as she nears walking milestone at Indian Wells

Angelique Kerber is hoping that her first win at the BNP Paribas Open isn't the only milestone for her family in Tennis Paradise. The three-time major champion scored her first win at a WTA 1000-level tournament as a mom in the California desert on Wednesday by beating Croatia's Petra Martic in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.

The win is Kerber's 125th at WTA 1000 level in her career, making her just the ninth player to score that many wins at the tour's most prestigious tournaments besides the four majors.

But it was doubly special for the 36-year-old Germany, as she's joined at the WTA 1000 event by her daughter Liana, who was born last February—and the 2019 Indian Wells finalist had something special to tell her, when she was handed the microphone by tournament emcee Andrew Krasny after the match.

"it's crazy how fast one year went," Kerber said, "but the message would be, 'Follow your heart enjoy what you love and dream big.'"

Later, speaking to Tennis Channel's Steve Weissman and Prakash Amritraj, Kerber said that another virtue she's learned in motherhood—patience—has served her well as she's navigated the ups and downs of her early return. She went 1-6 in her first three events at the United Cup, Australian Open and in Linz, only saving match points to beat Ajla Tomljanovic in the first of those in Germany's title run.

"I have to be patient. I'm not a patient person, but I know I have to be, because it takes time," she said, adding that she realized she needed both more matches and practices after her swing Down Under ended.

But as one of seven mothers in the main draw at Indian Wells, Kerber has had one of her closest confidant as a sounding board in Caroline Wozniacki, who herself is simultaneously charting a comeback to tennis after the birth of her two children. The pair have been friends since their junior days, bonding over their shared Polish roots, and their friendship has persisted even outside the confines of a tennis tour where they've both topped the WTA rankings.

But now, they have new experiences to commiserate about, something that Kerber thinks will serve them well in achieving their remaining athletic goals.

"Our conversations are a little different now, a little bit of mom-to-mom talk, but we're both coming back as mom as the same time, and it's nice to have her on tour again so we can practice together, we can chat together, we spend time togther," Kerber said. "This is something that makes the friendship really special."

With Kerber's first win as a mom at a WTA Tour event in the books, she now will keenly have her eye towards one of her daughter's impending milestones as she prepares face No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko in the second round. : Liana is "really close" to taking her first steps, according to the former world No. 1.

"I really enjoy to show her the world," Kerber said. "Of course, she's really small still, and in a few more days, I think she will walk. It's so close. Every day, you have something you're proud of, and it's really emotional."