Angelique Kerber coasted to another victory at the Miami Open. The world number one made it an easy Monday at Crandon Park Tennis Center dispatching tournament qualifier Risa Ozaki in a
6-2, 6-2 win on Grandstand court.
It was a clear challenge for the young Japanese star to take on the former world number one. The 22 year old never faced the high ranked German before but making it this deep into a high class tournament is perfect for her to make a big appearance against Kerber. Ozaki is on a five match winning streak downing Louisa Chirico, Kiki Bertens and Julia Goerges along the way to get into the fourth round. Though it wasn’t as easy as Kerber’s straight sets wins to date, she gave the indication that her efforts would be assured against the number one seed with an upset and a quarterfinal spot on the line.
She came right out with a love service on Kerber till the second seed got a point before the game ended. In response, Kerber brought her best but saw the challenge from the qualifier who forced deuce. The number one seed managed to get out of trouble using her tough forehand to save her service hold. She turned up the heat big smashing away at Ozaki that gave her a huge 4-1 commanding lead.
Ozaki ended her opponent’s streak with an opening break for herself, but it was barely a dent in the gap between the two on the scoreboard. Kerber snapped out another victory to serve for the set in the eighth reaching set point. She claimed it on an unforced error from the forehand of the Japanese player to end the first in 30 minutes with Kerber very much in control. She averaged a serve of 60 percent as well as her returns.
Kerber didn’t let off the gas at the start of the second dominating the ball on both ends of the court that led into a runaway for the world number one. She had every answer against the young Japanese player who quickly found herself running out of options. It was 5-0 in favor of Kerber who gained the honor of serving for the match with enough time to finish in under an hour.
Ozaki denied her that chance winning a key break that kept her alive going onward in the set. She served up a big one in the eighth winning by two game points and her second of the set. The challenge returned when Kerber got the ball striking shots that left the 22 year old defenseless against the serve. A fifth double fault put her into the game but an unforced error set up match point for the German. The final rally concluded with a wide return from the youngster ending her run at the tournament in 62 minutes.
Despite only winning four games in the match, the world number one was humble and impressed at the attempts of her opponent on court. “I think she played a very good tournament,” she said during her on court interview. “She got through the qualifications playing three good matches so well done to her. I was trying to play my game playing aggressive, being positive and its nice being in the quarters here.
Kerber will await her next challenge that could put her against Indian Wells finalist Svetlana Kuznetsova or American tennis veteran Venus Williams.
No comments:
Post a Comment