![](https://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Angelique+Kerber+Mutua+Madrid+Open+Day+Two+24U-LnShSz8l.jpg)
Angelique Kerber (zimbio.com)
MADRID: World No.2 Angelique Kerber has avoided a shock exit at the Madrid Open by overcoming underdog Katerina Sinikova 6-2, 1-6, 7-5, in the second round of the Madrid Open.
Gracing her presence on the Manolo Santana stadium in the unforgiving Spanish heat, it appeared as if Kerber would experience a one-sided triumph. Clinching the opening set after 27 minutes of play, the top seed then had a golden chance to break at the start of the second set. Failing to secure the breakthrough, Sinikova responded with some heavy-hitting of her own to silence Kerber’s camp and level at a set apiece.
Facing the verge of another shock loss, Kerber’s missed opportunities seemed destined to haunt her. Failing to convert a trio of break points, Kerber got broke in the following game to trail 5-3 in the decider. With alarm bells ringing in her camp, fears of another disappointing loss increased. Still, it was Kerber’s experience that prevailed as she clinched four consecutive games, to book a potential third round showdown against Maria Sharapova.
” I think it was from my side a really up-and-down match. I played really good in the first set, then in the second set the first few games at the beginning of the second set, it was really close.” Reflected Kerber.
“Then she (Sinikova) started playing better. I mean, she started to moving good, bring a lot of balls back. I did, yeah, too many mistakes in the second set. In the third set, I was just trying to finding my game back.”
Coming through the three-set epic, Kerber remains quietly positive about her progression on the clay. Last year she suffered three consecutive losses in outdoor tournaments on the clay.
“I think this clay season, this year is a little bit different. I played just one match in Stuttgart. I had more time to get ready on the clay court season outdoors.” She said.
“Maybe this year the clay court season will be a little bit different than last year, but it can be just better.”
Following her win in Madrid, Kerber has returned to the top of the WTA rankings and will become the official world No.1 next Monday.
Pliskova to lower expectations
Karolina Pliskova has been left re-evaluating her clay-court campaign after crashing out 6-3, 6-3, to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova. The world No.3 failed to capitalize on six break-point chances throughout the match, paving way for Sevastova to grab only her second win over a top-10 player.
“Every loss is frustrating. But I just have to move forward. I don’t think was that bad for the score. One break in each set. So it could have been different.” The bitterly disappointed Czech said following her loss.
Monday’s shock exit continues Pliskova’s troublesome start to the clay swing of the tour. After three tournaments played on the surface, she has only managed to win one match. It is a sharp contrast to her run on hard courts, which has already seen her lift titles in Brisbane and Doha this season.
“I think right now finally I can change my expectations. I had them quite high. Right now I think I’m not going to expect anything more on clay.” Said Pliskova.
“I still have two tournaments. I’m just going to see how it goes there, try to prepare obviously for Paris.”
“Well, I still believe I have a chance. Somehow I have to find my shape.”
Sevastova will play either 15th seed Barbora Strycova or Lucie Safarova in the next round.