Former world number one Angelique Kerber has been named a “Legend of Sports” by the Sportpresseball in Frankfurt, receiving the Pegasos Prize for her career achievements just weeks before the official ceremony in early November.

Development Gaps in the Women’s Tour

Germany currently has just two players ranked inside the Women’s  Tennis Association top 100: Tamara Korpatsch at No. 56 representing Hamburg, and Tatjana Maria at No. 69 representing Bad Saulgau. Kerber noted that bridging the gap back to Grand Slam contention will require patience and a systematic rebuild. “The development of women’s tennis is taking time, and we probably need a bit more patience to welcome one or the other back as a Grand Slam winner,” Kerber said during the announcement in Frankfurt. To help counter the drought, the 38-year-old plans to channel her experience back into the domestic setup, pointing to the growing number of tournaments hosted across Germany as a vital motivational tool for rising talent.

Discipline, Work Ethic, and the Road to the Top

Reflecting on the demands of elite competition, Kerber emphasized that natural talent alone cannot sustain a professional career. “Without discipline and hard work, you don’t get to the very top,” she stated, adding that willpower and mental fortitude form the foundation of sustained success. Having spent 34 weeks atop the WTA rankings during the 2010s and claiming silver at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, Kerber also stressed the importance of navigating inevitable slumps. “Falling into a hole is normal; you cannot play at a high level for your entire career. There are always ups and downs—just like in life.” That perspective helped fuel her historic run of major titles: the 2016 Australian Open breakthrough that changed her life, her subsequent US Open victory that pushed her to world number one, and her childhood dream realized at Wimbledon in 2018.

Joining Elite Company at the Sportpresseball

The Pegasos Prize cements Kerber’s legacy alongside former national football team manager Rudi Völler as the only German sports personalities to hold both the “Legend of Sports” honor and the Sportpresseball’s “Sportsperson with Heart” award, which she received in 2018. Despite retiring from professional tour events, Kerber remains active on the court, recently winning the Legends tournament in Luxembourg. “Tennis was my life,” she said. “I loved it—and I still love it. It’s still a joy to be out on the court.”