Kerber gunning for Rio gold after landmark year

Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber is targeting Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro to build on a successful 2016 that has already seen the German capture her first Grand Slam title.

The 28-year-old became the first German to win a Grand Slam crown since Steffi Graf in 1999 when she beat Serena Williams in the Melbourne final in January.

Kerber then lost to the American in the Wimbledon final a fortnight ago, and Williams, the top-ranked player in the world, is the defending Olympic champion and the name to beat in Rio.

But Kerber, the world number two, is heading to Brazil buoyed by her success so far this year and eager to get amongst the medals when the Olympic tennis tournament starts on August 6.

“I want to win a medal and gold would of course be an absolute dream,” Kerber told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

“In London (the 2012 Olympics), it didn’t work out as I went out in the quarter-finals, but I have gained a lot of experience in the last few years.

“I am looking forward to playing in the doubles with Andrea Petkovic, but I’ll have to decide whether to play mixed doubles when I am there.”

The German is currently playing in the WTA tournament in Montreal and faces Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the second round.

Kerber says she has no complaints following her 7-5, 6-3 defeat to Williams in the Wimbledon final.

“Of course, a bit of disappointment still remains. I played well, but Serena had the perfect reply,” said Kerber.

“I didn’t lose the match, she won it and it showed me that I have arrived at this level.

“I know that I can play in more finals — and there will be a different outcome.”