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Angelique Kerber admits to not finding her footing on clay

The world No. 1 lost in the first round of Roland Garros to Ekate

ByMatt Cronin

Published May 28, 2017

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PARIS - May 28, 2017 - Angelique Kerber, who lost in the first round of the French Open against Ekaterina Makarova, said that she can't find her footing on clay.

The world No. 1 has fallen in the opening round of Stuttgart, Rome, and now the French Open. She has won just two clay matches on the WTA Tour this season, reaching the third round of Madrid where she retired with a leg injury.

“I’m really not feeling so good, especially on my movement, because I cannot slide so good. Normally I can move very well, but on clay it's always a little bit different for me to the other surface,” Kerber said. “I [am] still not moving so good on clay. I'm not feeling good from the defense and also when I have to step in, I'm always like one step too slow.”

Kerber said it's difficult to play like a world No. 1 all the time, especially when she can't rely on her biggest asset.

“Of course it's tough. Especially my game is that I have to [be] moving good, that I have [to be] fighting for every single ball,” Kerber said. “My game [is] not just going for winners and for shots and having a good serve.

"Everybody knows last year I played a lot of tough matches, a lot of three-set matches. So even if I'm No. 1, No. 10 or No. whatever, I have to fight for my wins for my matches from the first point. And this is always tough for me, because I know that I have to be ready 100% from the first match. This is my game, and I think everybody has her own game, and this is mine.”

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