Angelique Kerber’s bid to maintain her world No.1 ranking and win her maiden Wimbledon title has received a boost with third seed Karolina Pliskova crashing out.
Kerber was firmly tested in her second round match against former SW19 semifinalist Kirsten Flipkens before prevailing 7-5, 7-5. The German won over the crowd towards the closing stages of the match as both players demonstrated some of their finest tennis. Twice Kerber had to recover from a break down during the opening set. Then in the second she failed to close it out whilst serving at 5-4, before finally sealing the win three games later.
“I think it was a really good match from both of us. We played really good and it was a little bit up and down, the match.” Kerber told the BBC. “I’m happy about my performance and it is nice to get through to the next round.”
The German is drawing much needed confidence from her second round performance, particularly with the elevation in her form towards the end of the match. Kerber is currently the world No.1, but is yet to win a title on the tour in 2017. Her best result was runner-up to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the Monterrey Open in April.
“I think the last few games in the second set, it was really good tennis from me and I was feeling my rhythm back. I was feeling that I am really fighting again for every single point.”
In the next round Kerber will play either Shelby Rogers or Lucie Safarova.
Pliskova out, but remains a threat
Kerber was on course for a semifinal showdown with Pliskova, but that will no longer happened after the Czech went out of the tournament. The world No.3 struggled to find a consistent rhythm in her game as she went crashing out 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, to Magdaléna Rybáriková.
“I think she’s very good on the net and with a slice backhand and overall serving. I think just her game is tough to play on the grass.” Pliskova said about her opponent.
Thursday’s loss continues Pliskova’s poor record at Wimbledon. Despite winning two WTA titles on the grass, she has never progressed beyond the second round in six attempts at SW19. Reflecting on her record at the grand slam, Pliskova has admitted that she struggled to adapt to the surface.
You have to get used to it. It’s different, tennis here. You cannot compare to clay or hard courts,” she said.
“The jump from the ball is always different. It doesn’t go high. You have to bend your knees, which is always trouble for me.
“There are few other things which I really don’t like on grass. Probably something in the air here!
“Obviously it’s disappointing. I don’t think I played bad.
“I’m just waiting for one or two good matches here in a row.”
There is still a possibility that Pliskova could become world No.1 depending on how far Kerber and Simona Halep progress in the tournament. Kerber needs to reach the final at the tournament this year in order to secure her top position. So is Pliskova hoping for her rivals to falter?
“I’m not going to pray for somebody’s losing or winning. So that’s not my thing anymore what is happening here.” She insisted.
Joking that it is now ‘vacation time,’ she will not return to the tour until the Canadian Open in Toronto.
