Last year’s Wimbledon champion and number 1 seed Angelique Kerber edged past last week’s Nottingham champion Caroline Garcia 6-3 7-6 (7-5) after 1 hour and 35 minutes to reach the semifinal at the Mallorca Open keeping her hopes alive to win her first WTA singles title in 2019.
Kerber won 73 % of her first serve points and hit 23 winners to 13 unforced errors. The three-time Grand Slam champion converted four of her seven break points.
Kerber earned an early break in the first game of the opening set, as Garcia made a backhand error on break point. The German player earned three double break points in the third game, but Garcia held her service game for 1-2.
Kerber held her serve in a four-deuce game to open up a 3-1 lead. The top seed went up 0-30 at 5-3 with a backhand lob and earned two set points two points later. Kerber converted her first set point with a backhand passing shot to seal the first set 6-3.
Garcia broke serve in the fifth game at love to take a 3-2 lead. Kerber broke straight back to draw level to 3-3. The former world number 1 player hit a service return to get another break in the eighth game for 5-3.
Kerber saved a break point chance, as she was serving for the match, and earned a match point. Garcia saved it with a backhand return winner. The French player brought up a second break point after a double fault from Kerber, and converted her chance with a strong service return sending the set to the tie-break.
Garcia raced out to a 5-2 lead, but Kerber reeled off three consecutive points to claw her way back to 5-5. Kerber earned a second match point at 6-5, when Garcia made a double fault, and sealed her opportunity with a deep forehand.
Kerber has improved her win-loss record in her head-to-head clashes against Garcia to 6-2.
“It’s really nice to be in the semis here, it’s a great tournament. I played really good. It’s the first tournament on grass, so I am looking forward to playing the semifinals right now”, said Kerber.
Kerber extended her perfect record in tie-breaks to 7-0 this season. She will take on this year’s Dubai champion Belinda Bencic, who beat Amanda Anisimova 6-2 6-2. After a trade of breaks in the first two games Bencic broke twice in the fifth and seventh games to win the first set 6-2. Both players traded breaks in the third and fourth games Bencic got a double break in the fifth and seventh games to seal a straight-set win.
