Angelique Kerber on the brink of becoming world No. 2 again
Angelique Kerber is into her first final at Indian Wells. A PNB Paribas title will propel her to the world No. 2 spot since losing it at the beginning of the year. Kerber has quietly been establishing herself as one of the major contenders this year.
We saw a near-perfect form at the Hopman Cup, where she teamed up with her compatriot Alexander Zverev. Zverev’s only singles loss there came at the hands of an in-control Roger Federer, but Kerber remained undefeated in her singles matches. She started out the year fully confident as ever, and has carried this assurance through her matches since that time.
Angelique Kerber faced tough opponents at the Sydney, Australian Open, and Doha tournaments including Petra Kvitova, new superstar Danielle Collins, and Elise Mertens, losing in the quarters and semis for the most part. However, the German player has had no problems since coming to Indian Wells, where she defeated top opponents Aryna Sabalenka, Venus Williams, half of the Swiss team Kerber lost to at the Hopman Cup doubles, Belinda Bencic.
Bencic has been on a hot streak all year, and the win over her was a significant achievement, ending the Swiss star’s 12-match winning streak, including her recent title at the Dubai Duty Free Championships. Despite starting out down in the first set of the PNB Paribas semifinals, Kerber dug deep to power through the win, 6-4, 6-2.
"I was trying to focus only on my side of the court. I was trying to play concentrated, and going for it when I had the chance,” Kerber said afterwards. “I'm really happy to be in the final for the first time now."
Angelique Kerber has re-established herself in top form since bowing out of the Top 20 two years ago. The pressure seemed to weigh on the 31-year-old after winning her first grand slam in 2016 at the Australian Open, and her second at the U.S. Open that same year. After surging to the top ranking in 2016, Kerber suffered two first round defeats at two of the grand slams in 2017. Not only did she lose the No.1 spot, but she dropped out of the Top 20, and ended the year by parting ways with her longtime coach Torben Beltz.
However, the three-time grand slam winner silenced her critics with a 2018 win over Serena Williams at Wimbledon, adding to her slam haul, and demonstrating that she was very much still a contender. Kerber has changed coaches twice, and is currently with Rainer Schüttler. Currently ranked No. 8, the reigning Wimbledon champ is seeking to break back into the Top 5. A finals win at Indian Wells will make her the new world No. 2.
The final on Sunday will be the first time that she and Canadian sensation, 18-year-old Bianca Andreescu—also into her first Indian Wells final—will play each other. It should prove to be a tightly fought battle.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2FkH0s5
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