WTA

Kerber beats Kvitova to reach US Open quarters

Kerber and Czech Kvitova had split their previous eight meetings, but the Australian Open champion proved too good in New York.

Dejan Kalinic
New York 05 September, 2016 08:12 IST
AngeliqueKerber - Cropped

Next up for Angelique Kerber is Roberta Vinci, the Italian who was runner-up at the tournament last year. 

Dejan Kalinic
New York 05 September, 2016 08:12 IST

Angelique Kerber took a step closer to World No. 1 and reached the US Open quarterfinals for just the second time with a win over Petra Kvitova.

>Matchcentre

The German star eased into the last eight with a surprisingly comfortable 6-3, 7-5 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.

Kerber and Czech Kvitova had split their previous eight meetings, but the Australian Open champion proved too good in New York.

With it, the World No. 2 moved closer to being top of the WTA rankings.

Reaching the quarterfinals at the year's last grand slam for just the second time and first since 2011, Kerber will be number one if Serena Williams fails to reach the final.

After trading breaks with Kvitova in the first set, Kerber won four of the last five games.

Both players squandered opportunities in the second before Kerber broke at the perfect time, a Kvitova double fault gifting her victory in the 12th game.

Next up for Kerber is Roberta Vinci, the Italian who was runner-up at the tournament last year. 

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Kerber [2] bt Kvitova [14] 6-3 7-5

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS 
Kerber – 8/8
Kvitova – 32/43

ACES 
Kerber – 0
Kvitova – 0

BREAK POINTS WON  
Kerber – 4/8
Kvitova – 1/3

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE  
Kerber – 65
Kvitova – 55

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE 
Kerber – 73/50
Kvitova – 76/29

TOTAL POINTS  
Kerber – 71
Kvitova – 60

Support Sportstar

Dear Reader,

Support our journalism — where text and pictures intermingle so seamlessly — and help us scale up your experience as the world changes around us. Your contribution is vital to our brand of uninfluenced, boots-on-the-ground reportage that’s worth your while. Clickbait sensationalism is not for us, but editorial independence is — we owe it to you.