Top seed Angelique Kerber experienced little difficulty during her 6-1, 6-3, win over Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella in the second round at the Monterrey Open in Mexico.
Bidding to win her first title of 2017 this week, the world No.1 registered a 88% winning rate behind her first serve and didn’t face a single break point in the 59-minute encounter. Kerber, who was a finalist in the tournament in 2013, will now play in her fourth quarter-final of the season.
“It was a good match from me,” she told wtatennis.com. “I played very well, and was able to play aggressively from the first point. I enjoyed the match tonight.”
Kerber’s next challenge will be defending champion Heather Watson in the last eight. The British world No.125 displayed little signs of her recent lackluster form by defeating sixth seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-1. The win has secured Watson her first back-to-back main draw wins since the 2016 Miami Open almost 13 months ago.
“I think it’ll be a good match; she won here last year and is the defending champion, so she knows the court and venue.” Kerber said about playing Watson.
“I think I’ll have to play like today, play my game. I’m looking forward to playing against her.”
Friday’s clash will be the third meeting between the two players. Kerber currently leads the head-to-head 2-0, but both encounters have gone to three sets.
Carla Suarez Navarro continued her comeback from injury with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-0, win over compatriot Sara Sorribes Tormo. The fourth seed successfully saved nine out of the 10 break points she faced and dismantled her opponents fragile second serve. Sorribes Tormo could only win three out of her 20 second service points.
“I feel really good,” she said after the match. “It’s my second victory here. It’s never easy playing another Spanish player. Today, the result looked easy, but not really, you know?”
Suarez Navarro will next play France’s Alize Cornet. Cornet breezed her way past Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-4.
The quarter-final line-up
(1) Angelique Kerber GER Vs Heather Watson GBR
(4) Carla Suarez Navarro ESP Vs (7) Aliza Cornet FRA
(3) Carolina Garcia FRA Vs Julia Boserup USA
(5) Timea Babos HUN Vs (2) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS
