The German booked her spot in the semis after Kvitova was forced to retire due to an illness.
Angelique Kerber is into the semi-finals after the Czech and world number 11 Petra Kvitova decided to retire at 6-4, 3-3 due to GI Illness that she suffered.
“Of course it is not the way you want to win a match and not against Petra (Kvitova) because we are good friends as well off-court as well and we played so many matches and it’s always a tough battle so I wish her all the best and a speedy recovery for the US Open and I think the first set I was playing pretty good and trying to be aggressive and serving good because that was the goal and playing as I did in the last few days here.”
The first set was tightly contested with both players doing a good job holding serve and it was the Czech who earned the first two breakpoints of the match at 3-3 but the German did a good job saving both and holding serve.
The world number 22 found herself at 5-4 15-40 and managed to win the first set.
The Bilovec, Czech Republic native determined to stay in the match and after holding the opening game of the second set she broke the German serve to take an early 2-0 lead.
Kvitova would save three breakpoints the following game and held serve once again to take a 3-0 lead but at the changeover called the physio and the doctor.
She didn’t take a medical timeout but was given medication and after Kerber managed to finally win a service game it fuelled the German and she got the break to go back on serve.
At 3-2, Kvitova took a medical timeout and the following game saved a breakpoint but looked completely out of it stopping after almost every point breathing very deeply.
At 3-3, she decided she couldn’t continue and retired from the match, and after it was confirmed she was suffering from a GI illness. Kerber will now face Ash Barty on Saturday and after the match gave her thoughts on the matchup.
“It’s another tough match and I know I will have to play my best tennis against her and it will be another good match and that is why I am here to have a lot of good matches against the best players before going to the US Open so tomorrow is another one and I am excited and looking forward to playing her again.”
Quarterfinal recap
Three other matches were played on quarterfinals day with the following results, Karolina Pliskova the tournament number five seed advanced after her Spanish opponent was forced to pull out due to right shoulder injury. Badosa was traling 7-5, 2-0 when she decided she could no longer play and retired.
Jil Teichmann backed up her win over Naomi Osaka by beating Belinda Bencic in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 in the battle of the Swiss and after the match she spoke about she is taking it one match, one tournament at a time after spending most of the year riddled with injury.
“I am going match by match because I know every match is a big challenge and I need to get the win to have another chance of playing.”
Finally the number one seed Ash Barty beat the number nine seed Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 to set up a semifinal matchup with the German on Saturday.
In the other semifinal Teichmann will face Karolina Pliskova on Saturday as well.
