Kerber Tops Karolina For U.S. Open Title

Entering the U.S. Open final on Saturday, Angelique Kerber had already wrested the No. 1 ranking in the world from Serena Williams.

Now the German needed to beat the woman who stunned Serena in the semifinals to capture her first U.S. Open crown.

It turned into quite the historic weekend for Kerber, who won her second Grand Slam title of 2016 by fending off No. 10 seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, under extremely hot and humid conditions in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Kerber, the No. 2 seed, won her WTA Tour-leading 54th match of 2016. She also picked up a winner’s check worth $3.5 million.

After Pliskova sailed a forehand wide on match point, Kerber fell to her back on the stadium court and then climbed into the stands to hug her coach, Torben Beltz. After returning to the court and sitting down, Kerber was reduced to tears of joy.

“It’s just amazing,” Kerber said in an on-court interview. “I won my second Grand Slam in one year, that’s the best year in my career.

 

The 28-year-old left-hander will officially become No. 1 in the world on Monday, the first German since Steffi Graf to accomplish that feat. Now she has two major titles to go with it. Kerber beat Serena to win the Australian Open in January and also reached the Wimbledon final, where she lost to Williams.

Kerber Tops Karolina For U.S. Open Title

US Open 2016: Serena Williams Into Semi final

Serena Williams was pushed hard by fifth seed Simona Halep before coming through in three sets to reach the semi-finals of the US Open.

The American six-time champion won a gripping contest 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Flushing Meadows night session to close in on a 23rd Grand Slam singles title.

Williams, 34, will play Czech 10th seed Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows (00:00 BST, Friday).

They will be followed by Angelique Kerber against Caroline Wozniacki.

Williams and Kerber are battling for the world number one ranking, with the American knowing that, to hang on to top spot, she must reach the final.

Should the German second seed line up as her opponent on Saturday, Williams will have to beat her to stay on top.

Pliskova, 24, beat Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh 6-2 6-2 to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time.

She did not face a break point and dropped only five points on her serve as she swept past the 18-year-old in just 57 minutes.

“I am so excited to be in my first semi-final, especially in this tournament,” said Pliskova. “I very much love New York and the hard-court season.”

BBC

US Open 2016: Serena Williams Into Semi final

The New Tennis Queen- Angelique Kerber

Well, she might sound a strange name to some tennis fans but here popularity is spreading at a very vast pace.

 

Born in the Bremen in north western Germany to a polish father and mother, Angelique started playing tennis in her early stages of life, but made her professional debut at age 15.

Prior to the Australian open championship in Melbourne, Angelique had already won four WTA Titles showing great agility in her display. The Australian open granted an opportunity for the 28 year old to win her first grand slam as she looked forward to make a mark in her tennis career

Her victory against the World number One Serena came as a great shock because of how Serena displayed some high quality tennis especially against Maria Sharapova.

Nevertheless Angelique Kerber determination accompanied with some energetic and relentless agility on court made her win her first Grand Slam.

The New Tennis Queen- Angelique Kerber