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Angelique Kerber serving

Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Tennis player Angelique Kerber has lost her comeback after an 18-month maternity leave. The 35-year-old had to admit defeat to the Italian Jasmine Paolini 4: 6, 5: 7. A year and a half ago, Kerber played her last match to date, and at the end of February she gave birth to daughter Liana.

"I'm impressed. I know what it's like to return after a long break," said teammate Laura Siegemund in the stands. Of course, it's not their best tennis yet, but it's great tennis."

At the United Cup, a team competition, Kerber will play for Germany alongside Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, among others, and is preparing for the Australian Open in Melbourne, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, which starts in two weeks.

Kerber got off to a good start in Sydney. The three-time Grand Slam winner fended off three early break points, won her opponent's service game and was 3-1 ahead in the first set. However, Paolini then dominated the game with powerful shots and won the next four games in a row. Kerber fought back, cheered herself on again and again, but hit a forehand into the net on the Italian's fifth set point.

In the second set, Paolini was also quickly ahead with a break. A cramp brought the world number 30. but initially out of rhythm. In order to get treatment during a break, she voluntarily gave up two games. But Kerber was also unable to take advantage of the 4-3 lead and lost the last game without winning a point of her own.

As a result, Germany fell behind 0-1 in the duel with Italy. Zverev has to prevent the first defeat in the second singles of the day against Lorenzo Sonego. On New Year's morning, France awaits in the fight for a place in the quarter-finals.

The United Cup is a mixed-nation competition and is only being held for the second time. 18 teams will compete in Perth and Sydney, and after the obligatory two singles matches, a potentially decisive mixed match is on the cards. The winners of each of the six groups of three and the two best runners-up in the preliminary round qualify for the quarter-finals.

Naomi Osaka set for first game after 15-month break

Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka will also return to professional tennis at the tournament in Brisbane at the beginning of January. The last time the four-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one was on the court at a WTA tournament was in September 2022. In July of this year, she gave birth to her daughter, Shai.

Now she is preparing for the Australian Open and wants to be a role model for her daughter. "I want to show Shai that she's capable of anything. That's one of my main goals and one of the main reasons why I want to be out here again," Osaka said.

She was nervous about whether her body could handle the demands of competitive sports. "I wasn't in my own body. I was driving the wrong car, if that makes sense," she said. These doubts have now been dispelled. "I wouldn't have come here if I didn't feel ready," Osaka said.

mlb/dpa/sid/AP