Courtesy Australian Open
Angelique Kerber held off another upset-minded opponent on Wednesday at the Australian Open, beating Carina Witthoeft 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-2.
Kerber looked unsteady at times throughout the 128-minute encounter, but so did her 21-year-old countrywoman.
Witthoeft showed off her firepower early to break Kerber, but her inconsistency showed as early as her next service game, when she served three doubles faults and was broken. She ended the set with six, and the match with nine double-faults.
Witthoeft brought a 7-10 record at the Slams into the match, but showed a willingness to go for broke. It paid off at key junctures.
Kerber ran off five games to close the first set, but errors crept into her game again early in the second. Witthoeft played a big part in that, hitting big groundstrokes and playing strong defense to keep the points going. She held a slight lead throughout the second set, and Kerber had to hold serve to force the tiebreak, where it was Kerber’s turn to struggle with her serve. She hit two double-faults late in the tiebreaker, opening the door for Witthoeft to force a third set.
Ultimately, though, Witthoeft couldn’t overcome her mounting errors – 69 by the end of the match, along with 38 winners. Kerber finished with 38 errors and 26 winners.
After the match, Kerber was asked about handling the new pressures that come with being the world No. 1.
It’s a completely new situation for me, but I think I am dealing … very well,” she said, noting the positive memories she has of playing on Rod Laver Arena, which including winning the event last year, beating Serena Williams in the final.
Along with the win, Kerber was celebrating her 29th birthday, and said she didn’t mind playing on the special day.
“I think I will have a great day today,” she laughed.
