Kerber puts Cibulkova into semis
Print Edition
ANGELIQUE Kerber eased into the last four of the WTA Finals with an unbeaten record when the world No. 1 thrashed Madison Keys 6-3 6-3 in the Red Group finale at the Singapore Indoor Stadium last night.
The 28-year-old German won all three of her round-robin matches and her straight-sets triumph over American Keys ensured Dominika Cibulkova would join her in the semifinals after the Slovak had earlier ground out a 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory over Romania’s Simona Halep.
Kerber has enjoyed a breakout season with grand slam victories at the Australian and US Opens, and her baseline hustling and resilient defense proved far too strong for an erratic Keys, who was broken six times in nine service games.
“It’s always tough to play against Madison so I was focused on playing my best and going for it when I had the chance,” Kerber said. “I moved and returned well and it feels incredible to be in the semifinals for a first time.”
Kerber will face either defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland or Czech Karolina Pliskova, a rematch of last month’s US Open final, in tomorrow’s semifinals while Cibulkova is set for a showdown against White Group winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.
After losing round-robin matches to Kerber and Keys, the Slovak needed a straight-sets win to have any chance of advancing. She stayed alive with a determined display before the German world No. 1 completed a perfect day for Cibulkova. Keys and Halep, who had her left knee taped for the match against Cibulkova, also finished the group with 1-2 records.
Both Keys and Halep would have advanced ahead of Cibulkova if either could have won a set yesterday but both women were outplayed by their opponents.
Halep, a runner-up at the elite eight-player event two years ago, was philosophical about her defeat, saying she was pleased just to make the tournament after a slow start to the year.
“This tournament was a bonus for me. I gave it everything I had. I didn’t have enough to qualify in the semis, but it was a good experience again, my third year in a row, so it’s a good thing.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
