Angelique Kerber endured a tough first match as world No.1 after recovering from a set down to defeat Kristina Mladenovic 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4, in the second round of the Wuhan Open.
The opening set saw opportunities come and go for the world No.1. Twice Kerber held a comfortable lead in the set at 2-0 and 4-2 before Mladenovic battled back to level proceedings. Failing to convert a duo of set points due to some inconsistent play, the two-time grand slam champion was edged out in the tiebreak.
Kerber’s lackluster start to the match sparked a resurgence in her aggressiveness on the court as she began to dictate play. A series of forehand winners on the crucial points aided the German to turn the match momentum around. Hitting an outright forehand winner to break at the start of the second set, Kerber swiftly secured the double break after an overhead lob from her was unsuccessfully returned by Mladenovic. Unlike the opening set where the top seed struggled to maintain her consistency, Kerber secured the second set with ease after hitting a winner down the line.
The surge in Kerber’s form on the court clearly upstaged Mladenovic’s game plan as she endured a nightmare start to the decider. Back-to-back double faults combined with a forehand unforced error gifted her opponent the early break. That fragile service game proved fatal to Mladenovic’s chances of scoring an upset as Kerber confidently move to a game away from the win. Serving for the match, the world No.1 raced to 40-0 before sealing the victory with a winner down the line.
“I was trying to come back in the second set and I found my rhythm. The first rounds are always tough.” Kerber said during her on court interview.
“I was trying to play more aggressively, play my (own) tennis and move a bit better.“
Awaiting Kerber in the next round will be Petra Kvitova, who required just over an hour to ease past world No.18 Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-1. Aft being broken at the start of the match, the 2014 champion dropped only ten points on her serve, winning 80% of her first service points.
Radwanska Marches on as Errani crashed out
Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska overcame a tough opening set to see off Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-1, in her opening match in Wuhan. After losing her break advantage in the eighth game, the Pole dominated the remainder of the match as she only allowed her rival to win one more game in the match. Producing just five unforced errors in her encounter with Makarova, the Pole is hoping to continue her fine form in Wuhan.
“I just hope I can play some more great tennis in China and I hope I can win the next round,” Radwanska said.
In the third round Radwanska will face the winner of the match between Caroline Wozniacki and Katerina Siniakova. Last week at the Toray Pan Pacific Open, Wozniacki defeated the Pole on her way to winning the title.
Meanwhile, Roberta Vinci suffered an upset after she was knocked out 7-5, 6-2, by Yaroslava Shvedova. It is the second time this year that the world No.15 has been defeated by the Kazakh player after the Dubai Open.
