Tennis: Defending champion Angelique Kerber knocked out of Wimbledon

Angelique Kerber's defense of her Wimbledon title came to an early end after being knocked out in the second round by lucky loser Lauren Davis 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Thursday.

The 31-year-old German, who came into the tournament in form having reached the final at Eastbourne, made her earliest exit since losing in the same round in 2013.

Davis has now equaled her best previous performance at Wimbledon in reaching the third round where she will play Spanish 30th seed Carla Suarez Navarro for a place in the last 16.

"This means everything as it is what I work for," said Davis.

"I was a bit nervous and I slid and hurt my foot in the first set.

"I am so happy to win, it is almost surreal."

Davis, who had strapping on her leg and shoulder, had been ranked outside the top 250 earlier this year but has risen back into the top 100.

"Yeah its been a tough journey and a process of learning and growing as a player and person," she said.

"The drop in ranking has made this win even more fulfilling."

Davis said of course doubts had set in but deep down she always had belief she could succeed.

"I believe in my ability," she said.

"For me in the match the turning point was when I was 3-2 up in the second set and I said to myself you belong here, you can do this."

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Tennis: Teenager Andreescu stuns Kerber to win Indian Wells title

Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu stunned three-times Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber 6-4 3-6 6-4 to win the BNP Paribas Open and capture her first career title in Indian Wells on Sunday.

Andreescu used creative and aggressive shot-making to defeat the German despite suffering with a troublesome right shoulder and leg cramps on a hot and sunny day in the Southern California desert.

The 18-year-old dropped her racket and fell on her back when Kerber hit a backhand into the net on match point to deliver the tournament wildcard the victory.

"It wasn't an easy match. It was one of the toughest matches I've ever played," she said in an on-court interview. "It's so incredible."

Andreescu would love to follow in the footsteps of world number one Naomi Osaka of Japan, who won the tournament last year before claiming the U.S. and Australian Open titles.

"The next is a Grand Slam. Let's see where this can take me," said the unseeded teenager who is ranked 60th in the world but will rise to 24th on Monday.

"Naomi did this last year. Now to have my name in front of so many champions it means the world to me."

Andreescu played fearlessly at the outset, breaking the former world number one in the opening game of the match and taking the first set.

The eighth seed battled back to claim the second and looked like she would cruise to the finish line when she broke to go up 3-2 in the third after Andreescu needed a medical time out to have her heavily taped right shoulder worked on by a trainer.

Momentum swung in Andreescu's direction when she broke back to level the set at 3-3 and held serve to love in the next game.

Nerves appeared to get to Andreescu near the end, when Kerber saved three match points behind some stout defence.

But Andreescu broke the German in the next game to claim the title and become the youngest woman to win at Indian Wells since 17-year-old Serena Williams in 1999.

"Hopefully this moment can be a great inspiration for many young athletes," she said.

"If you believe in yourself anything is possible. This moment has become a reality so it's really, really crazy."

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; editing by Clare Lovell and Ken Ferris)

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Tennis: Canadian teen Andreescu to face Kerber in Indian Wells WTA final

INDIAN WELLS -- Canadian sensation Bianca Andreescu toppled sixth-ranked Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 on Friday and will face Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber for the WTA title in Indian Wells.

Germany's Kerber, ranked eighth in the world, ended Belinda Bencic's 12-match winning streak with a 6-4, 6-2 victory to reach the final in the California desert for the first time in her third semi-final appearance.

Kerber won the last four games of the opening set and the last three games of the second to subdue Bencic, who was coming off her first WTA title in four years in Dubai.

The 22-year-old Swiss, whose career was disrupted by a string of back and wrist injuries, had beaten six top-10 players in her winning streak, including world number one and defending Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round here.

But she couldn't find a way past Kerber, who broke Bencic from 30-0 down in the final game of the opening set.

Kerber dropped her serve in the opening game of the second set, but broke Bencic twice to lead 3-1 before the Swiss clawed back another break.

But Kerber, taking full advantage of Bencic's 27 unforced errors in the match, won the next three games, to clinch it.

"It's always tough to play against Belinda," Kerber said. "She played so great in the past few weeks.

"I was trying to focus only on my side of the court. I was trying to play concentrated, and going for it when I had the chance.

"I really enjoy the semi-finals here - it was already twice here, and I'm really happy to be in the final for the first time now." 

Kerber, 31, will be playing 18-year-old Andreescu for the first time.

"I'm really looking forward to a really tough battle. She's here as a wild card, and she beat a lot of good players," Kerber said. "She has nothing to lose, she enjoys her tennis and she's a great player."

Andreescu, ranked 60th in the world after starting the year at 152, continued a stellar run that included a quarter-final victory over former world number one Garbine Muguruza.

She's the first wild card to reach the women's final at Indian Wells.

- Making history -

"It's incredible," she beamed when told of the achievement. "Another goal of mine was to make history and I just did."

"I really need a moment to soak this all in. This is just so incredible," an emotional Andreescu told the crowd. "This past week has been a dream come true."

Andreescu, who came through qualifying to reach the final at Auckland and made the semi-finals in Acapulco in February, had to dig deep to close it out against Svitolina, who saved on match point against her serve in the penultimate game to force Andreescu to serve it out.

It would take three more match points for a weary-looking Andreescu to succeed, when another baseline rally ended with Svitolina firing a forehand into the net.

"I really need a moment to soak all this in," said an emotional Andreescu, who was battling cramp in the closing games.

"I think the cramping was because I was so stressed out with everything," Andreescu said. "But I have had many moments like this in the past, playing Challenger events, juniors. Breathing really helps for me, so I took a lot of deep breaths and I tried not to get mad at myself. It really worked.

"It was a roller coaster," she said. "I'm really happy I pulled through."

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Tennis: Kerber overcomes qualifier to reach Indian Wells 4th round

INDIAN WELLS -- Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber came from a set down against qualifier Natalia Vikhlyantseva on Monday to reach the WTA Indian Wells fourth round.

Eighth-ranked Kerber, a two-time semi-finalist in the California desert, shook off a slow start to beat the 112th-ranked Russian 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

After dropping her serve in the first game of the second set, Kerber won seven games in a row to force a third set and take a 2-0 lead in the decider.

She was unable to convert four match points against Vikhlyantseva's serve at 5-1 and was broken at love when serving for the match at 5-2 before finally putting it away.

"I think it gives me confidence that I can turn around matches, that I can play also three sets, also in the close moments that I'm there, that I can trust myself," said Kerber.

She said it was always difficult to face a player for the first time, and she'll be doing the same in the fourth round against Aryna Sabalenka, the ninth seed from Belarus who defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 7-5.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka, whose Australian Open triumph propelled her to number one in the world, headlines the battles for a place in the round of 16 when she takes on American Danielle Collins in the night session on Stadium Court.

Osaka opened her campaign with a straight-sets victory over Kristina Mladenovic, avenging her shock loss to the French player at Dubai in February.

Collins is trying to build on a breakout run at the Australian Open, where she fell in the semi-finals to two-time Wimbledon champion Petro Kvitova.

Osaka won their only prior meeting in Beijing last year 6-1, 6-0, a result that left Collins eager for "another crack" at the world number one.

"There is no way it could go any worse for me," Collins said. "That's really as bad as it can get in terms of the score and how quickly the match went."

Fifth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova survived an off day to reach the round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure.

"The only good thing was my serve today, with a lot of aces and service winners," Pliskova said. "Overall, I think my game was a bit bad. The conditions changed from my last match, but hopefully in the next match I can play better."

That will be against Estonian Anett Kontaveit, who was leading 5-0 against 11th-seeded Anastasija Sevastova when the Latvian retired from their match.

One day after 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams retired from her third round match because of illness, Venus Williams kept the family flag flying with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Christina McHale.

Williams pulled back a break in the second set to book a round of 16 clash with Mona Barthel, a 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 winner over Julia Goerges in an all-German contest.

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Kerber stunned as Nadal powers into Open quarters

MELBOURNE -- World number two Angelique Kerber was sensationally bundled out of the Australian Open Sunday by a woman playing the event for the first time, as a rampant Rafael Nadal powered into the quarter-finals.

Hometown hero Ashleigh Barty also made the last eight after muscling past Maria Sharapova and will next meet Petra Kvitova, who matched her best Slam performance since a terrifying knife attack derailed her career.

Wimbledon winner Kerber, the bookies' favorite along with Serena Williams after defending champion Caroline Wozniacki was ousted early, was humiliated by American Danielle Collins 6-0, 6-2 in under an hour.

Ranked 35 in the world, Collins is little known after playing much of her tennis in the US college system and was making her debut in the main draw at Melbourne Park. She had never won a Grand Slam match before this year.

"I may not have won a Grand Slam match before this but I tell you, it's going to keep happening," said the 25-year-old. "I better have many more of these."

Collins said she held no fears about facing three-time Slam champion Kerber, who made the semis last year and won in 2016.

"I just go out fearless, just give it my all."

Her reward is a last-eight clash with either fifth seed Sloane Stephens or Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Men's second seed Nadal, returning from foot surgery, barrelled past former world number four Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) as he stays on track for an 18th Grand Slam title.

"I always say the same when I am back for injury," said the Spaniard. "I don't expect negative or positive things. I just try to do my work every day and just be with (the) right attitude every single day."

He will play world number 39 Frances Tiafoe for a place in the semi-finals after the young American celebrated his 21st birthday by grinding his way past Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (1/7), 7-5.

"It means the world," said Tiafoe, the son of immigrants from Sierra Leone.

Swiss great Roger Federer, the double defending champion who is targeting a record seventh crown at Melbourne Park, plays an evening match against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

- Absolute champion -

Barty is also a surprise quarter-finalist after bringing Sharapova's drive to win a first Grand Slam since the 2014 French Open to a grinding halt 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Five-time major winner Sharapova claimed her biggest scalp since completing a drugs ban in 2017 when she rolled Wozniacki in round three and looked on track to carry the momentum forward.

The 30th seed won the first set but then fell to pieces in front of a parochial crowd who booed her at times, losing nine games in a row to surrender the second and go two breaks down in the third.

Despite offering some late resistence, and some unbelievable tennis, there was no way back for the 2008 Melbourne winner.

"She is an absolute champion," Barty, seeded 15, said of Sharapova. 

"She was never going to go away. I knew I had to keep chipping away -- in a sense, trust the work we've done. I know that I can match it with the best."

The diminutive Barty, 22, has been in sizzling form, winning seven of eight matches this year to back up a title victory in Zhuhai late last year.

Next up is Kvitova, who beat Barty in the final of the warm-up Sydney International this month.

The two-time Wimbledon champion beat 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-1 to match her best performance at a major since being slashed in a terrifying attack at her home in late 2016 that left her with lasting nerve damage in her fingers.

"I'm feeling good. It is important for me to enjoy time on the court and playing tennis, which is the main thing for me," said the Czech, who is in the quarters at Melbourne for the first time since 2012. 


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Zverev, Kerber put Germany on track for Hopman final

PERTH, Australia -- Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber steered Germany closer to a second successive Hopman Cup final after winning their singles matches against lower-ranked French opponents in Perth Wednesday.

The German top 10 duo, beaten in last year's final of the mixed teams tournament by Swiss duo Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic, made it two wins from as many group outings, beating France 2-1.

Kerber had to come from a set down to beat feisty Alize Cornet, while Zverev squandered a second-set match point before defeating Lucas Pouille in three sets.

In the mixed doubles, both sides took a very relaxed attitude to the dead rubber match and the French gained some consolation with a straight sets 4-3, 4-3 win.

Ranked second in the world, Kerber served for the first set in her singles match against the 45th-ranked Cornet, but then dropped three successive games as the Frenchwoman claimed the set.

However, Kerber settled and claimed the next two sets to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in just over two hours and maintain her perfect singles record in Perth, with six wins from as many outings.

Kerber said Cornet was always a tricky opponent.

"She is a fighter," Kerber said.

"I had my chances in the first set, but she was playing good then and I missed a few balls.

"I was trying to find my rhythm in the second set, trying to still keep going and then the third set I think it was just two or three points that decided it."

Ranked fourth in the world, Zverev started well against the 32nd-ranked Pouille and took the first set comfortably on the back of a service break in the eighth game.

However, the match tightened up in the second set, with both players holding set points.

Zverev had a match point during the second set tie-break, while it wasn't until his sixth set point that Pouille levelled the match.

The pair traded service breaks early in the third set, but Zverev gained a second break for a 4-2 lead when the Frenchman double faulted and that sealed Pouille's fate.

"Lucas fought well and played very well in the important moments sometimes," Zverev said, after winning 6-3, 6-7, 6-2.

"He is a very tough opponent.

"I just hope to keep going with Angie and seeing how far we can go."

Unbeaten in their two group outings, the Germans will be guaranteed a spot in Saturday's decider if they beat Australia on Friday.

France are out of contention after losing both their ties.

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Tennis: Sloane Stephens downs Angelique Kerber, storms into WTA semis

A confident Sloane Stephens stormed into a semi slot at the WTA Finals with a convincing straight-sets victory against top seed Angelique Kerber Friday, joining fellow debutant Kiki Bertens in the knockout stage.

The former US Open champion continued her unbeaten run in Singapore with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph in 101 minutes, her fifth straight-sets victory in a row over Kerber.

After topping Red Group, Stephens will play Czech Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals.

For the first time since 2003, none of the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals of the WTA Finals.

"I stayed solid the whole time knowing there was a lot on the line," Stephens said after the match.

"I knew it was going to be a battle and just tried to play as hard as I could."

The match started tensely, with Kerber unable to convert seven break points in Stephens' first three service games, and the missed opportunities proved costly.

An energetic Stephens made her pay by converting all three of her break points to draw first blood.

The American impressively counterattacked and pinpointed the lines to frustrate Kerber, who survived an injury scare when she landed awkwardly midway through the first set.

Kerber was immediately under pressure in the second set and saved seven break points in the fourth game before cracking under the pressure.

There was still fight left in the German, who broke straight back but continued to struggle on serve.

On her fifth break point, Stephens claimed the decisive break in the eighth game and then served it out to knockout the Wimbledon champion.


- Tearful withdrawal -


Bertens faces unbeaten Elina Svitolina after a hamstring injury forced Naomi Osaka's retirement earlier Friday.

She won the first set 6-3 in 47 minutes before US Open champion Osaka, who wiped away tears, forfeited the match.

It was a bitterly disappointing end for the 21-year-old, who came into Singapore as the form player but lost three-set matches to Stephens and Kerber.

"I hurt my left hamstring in the first match (against Stephens)," Osaka told reporters.

"It was just getting worse and worse every time I played. I couldn't even really practice that well today."

But it was enough for Bertens to seal a final four spot having defeated Kerber earlier in the round-robin phase.

Bertens only qualified for the WTA Finals just days before the tournament after world number one Simona Halep withdrew due to injury.

"It's never easy or never nice to win a match like this, but it is what it is," Bertens said.

"To be at the last four, last tournament of the year, it's unbelievable."

Osaka had started the match brightly, rolling through her service games before being broken in the eighth game.

With her upper leg heavily strapped, Osaka called a medical timeout after the eighth game and required treatment in the locker room.

She came back on court but dropped her serve to love, culminating in a double fault which turned out to be her last action at the WTA Finals.

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Wimbledon: Angelique Kerber stuns Serena to win title

LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) - Angelique Kerber ripped up the script when she stunned Serena Williams 6-3 6-3 to win her first Wimbledon title on Saturday.

The 11th seed took advantage of an error-strewn performance by the seven-times champion to become the first German woman to win the title since Steffi Graf in 1996.

American great Williams, playing in only her fourth tournament since becoming a mother last September, had been looking to match Margaret Court's record 24 Grand Slam titles.

She was also seeking to become the first mother to win Wimbledon since Australian Evonne Goolagong in 1980.

The 36-year-old, unbeaten at the All England Club since 2014, had begun to look unstoppable during the fortnight and had dropped only one set in reaching her 10th Wimbledon final.

She had not faced anyone with the pedigree of the German though and was outmaneuvered in the first set as Kerber's dogged defense forced too many errors.

Williams dropped serve three times in the opening set and although she tried to fire herself up in the second she played a loose game at 2-3 and Kerber broke with a running pass.

Serving for the match, Kerber looked nervous as Williams got it back to 30-30 but she claimed victory when Williams netted, tumbling to the dusty baseline in relief before being warmly embraced by her opponent.

Her win, revenge for a 2016 defeat in the final by Williams, snapped the American's 20-match winning run at Wimbledon. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon)

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Tennis: Kerber, Keys set up quarterfinal as Berdych fires up

MELBOURNE -- Angelique Kerber and Madison Keys set up an enticing Australian Open quarterfinal Monday, with one roaring through and the other having to dig deep to stay in the title hunt.

Dangerous Czech Tomas Berdych, a two-time Melbourne Park semi-finalist, also powered into the last eight, demolishing Italy's Fabio Fognini, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

His reward is a clash with either Swiss maestro Roger Federer or unheralded Hungarian Marton Fucsovics for a place in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Germany's Kerber is the only Grand Slam champion left on the women's side of the draw, and she was given a big fright as she chases her second Melbourne Park crown after beating Serena Williams in 2016.

After crushing Maria Sharapova in the last round, she came up against gritty Taiwanese veteran Hsieh Su-wei who stunned the 21st seed by taking the first set on Rod Laver Arena.

At one point Kerber was serving to stay in the match, but she bounced back to win, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

"Credit to her, she played unbelievable. I was running everywhere," said Kerber, who had a poor 2017 after starting the year as world number one. "I was just trying to focus on every point."


Hsieh, ranked 88, was always going to be a threat after knocking out world number three Garbine Muguruza and the dangerous Agnieszka Radwanska en route to the fourth round.

The win set Kerber up with a clash against American Keys, a semi-finalist in 2015 who has found a new lease of life under the guidance of former great Lindsay Davenport.

Seeded 17, she flattened French eighth seed Caroline Garcia, 6-3, 6-2, in just 68 impressive minutes.

"I feel like I'm playing just solid, consistent tennis," said Keys, a US Open finalist last year. "I think today was a good example of that. I think I served well. I think I returned well."

The 22-year-old added: "Right now I'm definitely really enjoying my job."

Whoever wins that match will have a potential semifinal against world number one Simona Halep, although the Romanian first has to get past Japan's Naomi Osaka on Margaret Court Arena.

How she backs up will be keenly watched after her third round epic, where she was pushed to 15-13 in the third set by American Lauren Davis.

The final women's match sees sixth seed Karolina Pliskova take on fellow Czech Barbora Strycova, seeded 20.

Enjoying it   

Berdych, a semi-finalist in 2014 and 2015 at his most successful major, easily beat Fognini with the 32-year-old saying: "I'm really enjoying every single moment on court.

"I'm feeling good and healthy."

He is now in his seventh Australian Open quarterfinal with Federer, who knocked him out in the third round last year, looming.

The defending champion takes aim at an incredible 14th Australian Open quarterfinal later when he faces one-time training partner Marton Fucsovics.

The Swiss maestro, 36, has made at least the last eight every year since 2004, bar a hiccup in 2015, with the odds of him doing so again heavily stacked in his favor.

Fucsovics has never beaten anyone ranked higher than 13th and is making his tournament debut.

Novak Djokovic is also in action in a night match as he looks to reach the last eight in Melbourne for a 10th time, with a tough test against talented Chung Hyeon.

The glasses-wearing South Korean, ranked 58, upset fourth seed Alexander Zverev in five sets in the round of 16 and Djokovic is wary.

"He's playing great. He's fit. He doesn't have too many holes in his game," he said.

The winner will face either Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem or American surprise packet Tennys Sandgren.

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Tennis: Kerber thrashes Sharapova to reach fourth round

MELBOURNE - Maria Sharapova's hopes of a title-winning return to the Australian Open were unceremoniously crushed by Angelique Kerber as the battle of the former champions ended 6-1 6-3 in the German's favour on Saturday.

The Rod Laver Arena evening clash between the only two grand slam winners left in the women's draw had the feel of a showpiece final rather than a third-round clash but it was Kerber who rose to the occasion.

Sharapova, back in Melbourne after testing positive for a banned substance here in 2016 resulting in a 15-month ban, had looked menacing in the opening two rounds.

But Kerber, who plummeted down the rankings last year after finishing the year before at number one, broke her serve in the first game of the match and that set the tone for what followed.

She streaked away with the first set and although 2008 champion Sharapova briefly threatened a fightback after falling behind in the second, it was not to be the Russian's night.

A fluffed drop shot attempt at 3-4 followed by an unforced error gave 2016 champion Kerber breathing space and she finished the contest in the next game. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)

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Pavlyuchenkova beats Kerber to claw into Pan Pacific Open final

TOKYO - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fended off a major fight back from two-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber to win in three sets Saturday and reach her first Toray Pan Pacific Open final.

World No. 23 Pavlyuchenkova won 6-0, 6-7(4), 6-4 and will face either top-ranked Garbine Muguruza or defending champion Caroline Wozniacki on Sunday at Ariake Colosseum.


Pavlyuchenkova admitted to thinking she had lost the match when she was down 3-0 in the final set.

"I was already thinking about going to Wuhan, when I should fly. In my head I was booking flights already," the Russian said, referring to the next tournament starting Sunday in China. "But at the same time, I always fight to the last moment, the last point."

"There was a lot of drama from both sides. I actually didn't expect to start as well as I did today. It was a great match and I'm glad to be in the final here."

Kerber was a stark contrast to herself in the opening set from a day earlier, when she outlasted Karolina Pliskova in a quarterfinal pitting two former world No. 1s and also a rematch of last year's U.S. Open final.

Pavlyuchenkova flew through the first set in 19 minutes as Kerber appeared sluggish, able to win just 10 points.

It wasn't until the third game of the second set that Kerber finally won her first game of the match, breaking Pavlyuchenkova, but almost looked like she would pull out afterward.

Kerber sought a medical timeout to receive treatment on her left forearm and the German headed back out -- beginning an impressive turnaround, going on to win the set in a tiebreak after being down by as much as 5-2.

Kerber won the first three games of the third set, but then Pavlyuchenkova returned the favor with a comeback of her own, rattling off the next five before connecting on the second match point to book her spot in the final.

Kerber said she wasn't sure how serious the injury to her arm is.

"I don't know about my arm. I could play to the end so I hope it's not so serious," said last season's winner of the U.S. and Australian Open.

"In the first set, I was not completely in my rhythm, not in my game and she started very well. I tried to turn it around and win the second set so I think at the end, it was still a good match," Kerber said.

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Kerber scrambles for Wimbledon boost

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom -- Angelique Kerber’s chances of clinging to a small lead at the top of the world rankings may hinge on the quality of her performances at the Birmingham WTA grass court event starting Monday.

They may also have a crucial bearing on Kerber’s ability to challenge for the title at Wimbledon which begins in a fortnight’s time, as she makes the often tricky transition from clay to grass courts at the $800,000 Premier level event.

The signs do not appear good for the 29-year-old Poland-born German, even though she been number one much of the time since September.

She has yet to capture a title this year and none of her 21 wins in 11 tournaments have been against a top 20 opponent.


Nevertheless Kerber is significantly more effective on grass than on clay, and won her first title on the speedier, lower-bouncing surface in Birmingham two years ago. She went on to reach the Wimbledon final last year.

Another good run at the tranquil, tree-lined Edgbaston Priory Club, with its leafy affluence and well-manicured courts, may be within her capacity, and if so it could work wonders for wavering confidence.

Although Kerber often says that protecting a ranking and coping with pressure are issues she tries to keep from her mind, there is little doubt that a few wins and some lengthy court time would be very timely.

“I always look forward to grass,” she emphasises. “And I really like playing here.”

Kerber comes into the event still smarting from becoming the first top seed to lose in the opening round at Roland Garros.

She has also landed a potentially difficult draw.

Her opener is against Lucie Safarova, the 2015 French Open finalist from the Czech Republic, and there is a possible quarter-final against the fifth seeded Kristina Mladenovic, the French woman who spectacularly halted Garbine Muguruza’s French Open title defence.

If Kerber does make the final her opponent, according to the seedings, should be Elina Svitolina, who captured the Italian Open title last month and has prevailed in both her encounters with Kerber this year.

However two notable withdrawals after their French Open exertions are Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova, and they are Kerber’s closest rivals for the number one ranking.

Her capacity for taking advantage of these absences may depend on how well her fitness holds up, for adaptations in shot-making on grass which require a lower centre of gravity, can bring new physical stresses.

Kerber retired with a thigh strain against Eugenie Bouchard in the third round in Madrid last month.

Meanwhile there will also be focus on Petra Kvitova, the trenchant left-hander who has twice been the champion at Wimbledon.

Grass is by far Kvitova’s best surface and she should enjoy returning to it.

However the most she will probably aspire to is continued rehabilitation from career-threatening hand injuries suffered during a horrendous knife attack by an intruder at her home last year.

The likeable Czech has been able to play only two matches this year, and even modest progress this week may earn sympathetic acclaim and hopes that, at the age of 27, she might yet resurrect her career.

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Kerber, Cibulkova survive scares in Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia -- World number one Angelique Kerber survived a big scare from Australian wildcard Ashleigh Barty to progress to the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International on Wednesday.

The reigning Australian and US Open champion held on to beat the impressive Barty in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Barty, the 2011 junior Wimbledon champion, walked away from the sport at the end of 2014 and only returned for four tournaments in 2016.

However, the 20-year-old from Brisbane is now back on the tour full-time and she showed local fans what they have been missing with a brave fight against Kerber.

 
Showing no nerves, Barty opened an early lead, only for Kerber to claw her way back and claim the opening set.

Barty again skipped away to an early lead in the second set but this time an error-prone Kerber was unable to recover.

However, the German cut out the mistakes to break Barty early in the final set and held on to win in one hour, 44 minutes and set up a quarter-final against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.

"It's always tough to play a match after such a long break, and Ashleigh was playing very well from the first point," Kerber said.

"It's always different starting the year, and the first matches are always tough.

"You have to get again into the rhythm and play a lot of matches to feel your game."

Second seeded Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova was also forced to dig deep before beating China's Zhang Shuai 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

After losing the first set Cibulkova seemed in control when she took the second and went 4-0 up in the third.

But Zhang fought back to 4-4 before the Slovakian claimed the last two games to move into the quarter-finals.

"I knew it was not going to be easy. I didn't expect to play my best tennis today, but, you know, I'm happy I managed to come back into the match," Cibulkova said.

"She was playing really well, but then I started to use my weapons much more. I started to be much more aggressive on the return with my forehands, and I didn't let her in the game."

Cibulkova enjoyed a breakthrough 2016, winning the WTA Finals in October when she beat Kerber in the decider.

She started the year at a career high five in the world and said it was difficult adjusting to the expectations that were now on her.

"You can feel the expectation and the pressure -- this is what I'm trying to deal with," she said.

She now plays Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in the quarter-finals, a player she lost to in their last two meetings.

Two-time Grand Slam singles winner Svetlana Kuznetsova ended 16-year-old Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava's run with a comfortable 6-4, 6-3 win, while Italian eighth seed Roberta Vinci looked equally at ease as she downed Japan's Misaki Doi 6-4, 6-2.

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Murray, Kerber named ITF players of the year

LONDON - Briton Andy Murray and Germany's Angelique Kerber were named ITF World Champions on Tuesday, capping stellar years for the men's and women's world number ones.

Murray, whose brother Jamie was named doubles World Champion along with Brazil's Bruno Soares, won Wimbledon in July before becoming the first player to win two Olympic singles gold medals when he retained his crown in Rio de Janeiro in August.

He won nine titles in a milestone year that ended with him beating rival Novak Djokovic to win the ATP Tour Finals and seal the year-end rankings top spot.

"It means a lot to me to be named ITF World Champion. I have had such a memorable year," Murray said in a statement.

Kerber enjoyed an equally impressive season, winning the Australian and U.S. Open titles as well as an Olympic silver medal in Rio.

She becomes the first German to win the award since Steffi Graf claimed the last of her seven in 1996.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Tony Jimenez)

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Ruthless Kerber sets up final with Cibulkova

SINGAPORE - Angelique Kerber continued her relentless march towards a maiden WTA Finals crown with a comprehensive 6-2 6-1 victory over defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska on Saturday to set up a title showdown against Dominika Cibulkova.

The German enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with victories at the Australian and U.S. Opens to usurp Serena Williams at the top of the world rankings and after another dominant display, she will be favoured to cap her season with the Singapore title on Sunday.

"I was trying to be focused on every single point because playing against her is so tough, so I just made sure I played my game and was aggressive," Kerber said. "It's amazing to think that I will be in the final in Singapore."

Both players are renowned for their exemplary defence and supreme athleticism but, with serving not considered their strongest suit, it was hardly surprising to see the contest start with three straight breaks in favour of the German.

Kerber gave her Polish opponent no free points, got everything back and forced Radwanska into playing an extra shot on every rally, the constant pressure leading to another break in the seventh game, enough for the German to claim the opener.

Radwanska struggled to come up with any answers as the alarmingly consistent Kerber ran away with the contest against her dispirited opponent with four more breaks of serve.

In the first semi-final, Cibulkova continued her dream debut at the elite eight-woman event with a thrilling 1-6 7-6(2) 6-4 victory over Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in an absorbing encounter.


INTENSITY LEVELS

The 27-year-old Slovakian, who had won their last five encounters, enjoyed a bright opening and threatened on Kuznetsova's first service game but some booming forehands bailed out the Russian, who edged ahead when she broke in the third game.

Kuznetsova was now firing on all cylinders, pushing Cibulkova all around the court and forcing her into errors and the rampant Russian secured two more breaks to complete a run of six straight games to wrap up the opener.

Cibulkova responded by stepping up her intensity levels in the second set and, as the tension mounted, neither player was capable of holding serve and four consecutive breaks from the ninth game sent it to a tiebreaker.

Cibulkova maintained her aggression in the tiebreak, sprinting 6-2 ahead as Kuznetsova struggled to keep pace and the Slovakian sent the contest into a decider when she rifled a backhand winner past her static opponent.

The third set was punctuated by several swings in momentum before Cibulkova followed up a gutsy hold from 15-40 in the ninth game to seal victory with another break.

"This is my first time here and it's one of my dreams come true, just incredible," world number eight Cibulkova said.

The final is a rematch of their opening round-robin match last Sunday in which Kerber beat the Slovakian 7-6(5) 2-6 6-3, the only contest of the week when the German lost a set.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)

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Gavrilova stuns Kerber at Hong Kong Open

HONG KONG - World number one Angelique Kerber crashed out of the Hong Kong Open in the quarter-finals on Friday, the German slumping to a shock 6-3 6-1 defeat to Australia's Daria Gavrilova at Victoria Park.

Kerber, who also suffered a surprise loss to Elina Svitolina in the round of 16 at last week's China Open, committed six double faults and struggled on serve as her 38th-ranked opponent secured victory in an hour and 14 minutes.

Moscow-born Gavrilova fired five aces against the German as the 22-year-old continues her quest for a first WTA singles title, and she will next face Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic for a place in the final.

Her victory over Kerber, who surged to the top of the rankings after winning the Australian and U.S. Open titles this year as well as reaching the Wimbledon final, was her first against the German Olympic silver medallist in six meetings.

Mladenovic defeated American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 3-6 6-3 7-6(3) in the second quarter-final. Jelena Jankovic is the defending champion and the Serb faces another Frenchwoman, Alize Cornet, in a last eight encounter later on Friday. (Reporting by Ian Rodricks in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien)

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Kerber begins reign as No. 1 with U.S. Open win

NEW YORK -- Germany's Angelique Kerber began her reign as world No. 1 in imperious style battling past a determined Karolina Pliskova, 6-3 4-6 6-4, to win the U.S. Open final on Saturday and claim her second grand slam title of the year.

Kerber, who officially takes over from Serena Williams as the world's top ranked player on Monday, underlined her No. 1 status displaying the heart of a champion as she fought off a fierce challenge from Czech 10th seed Pliskova on a steamy afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 28-year-old began the grand slam year beating Serena Williams to lift the Australian Open title and celebrated again on Saturday when she became the first German to win the U.S. Open in 20 years.

Kerber recovered from a break down in the third set, pouncing on her wilting opponent with two breaks in the third set to end a compelling, high-quality battle of attrition that stretched for two hours and seven minutes.

"It's just amazing," a beaming Kerber, told an adoring crowd after being handed the winner's check of $3.5 million. "I won my second grand slam in one year. That's the best of my career.

"Actually just incredible.

"When I was a kid I was always dreaming to be the number one player in the world and win grand slams and today is the day I won my second grand slam here, especially in New York. I'm the number one player on Monday.

"All the dreams came true this year."

Pliskova, who arrived at Flushing Meadows with a reputation of grand slam under-achiever having never before been beyond the third round of the major, shed that label by making it all the way to the final and taking on back-to-back world number ones.

After beating top ranked Serena Williams in the semi-finals to end the American's record-equaling 186 consecutive weeks stay at the top of the rankings, the big-hitting Pliskova, who has led the WTA Tour in aces the last two season, attacked her successor in the final but could not break down the tireless German's defense.

"You cannot compare those two (Serena Williams and Kerber)," explained Pliskova. "The game is totally different. The persons as well. Serena is going for every shot.

"With Angie, you cannot wait for mistakes. She doesn't give you anything. I have to be the one who is aggressive.

"I beat very good players. It was always my goal to pass the third round and I made it to the final."

Kerber admires compatriot Steffi Graf, but is blazing her own trail.

Comparisons, though, are inevitable after Kerber became the first German to win the U.S. Open since Graf claimed the last of her five Flushing Meadows crowns in 1996.

"She was always my idol and I told her so many times," said Kerber, adding that Graf had sent her a text wishing her luck. "For me it's really important to go on my own way."

The match opened with Kerber breaking a jittery Pliskova and ended the same way, though for most part it was a very even contest.

Kerber's loss of the second set was the first time the entire championship that she had dropped a set.

But she fought back in the third set and wore down the towering Czech, who started to wilt in the punishing conditions, hunching over her racket at the end of almost every point.

Kerber, sensing an opening, stepped up the pressure and pace getting triple break point at 5-4 and closed out the contest on the first match point.

"I think I was just believing in myself in the third set and just going for it," said Kerber.

"I think that was the key at the end of the third set, that I was trying to take the chance, just go for it."

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Raonic crashes as Djokovic gets walkover at US Open

NEW YORK -- Fifth seed and Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic was knocked out of the US Open on Wednesday by American qualifier Ryan Harrison as Novak Djokovic was handed a free pass into the last 32.

The 120th-ranked Harrison won 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 7-5, 6-1 and goes on to face Marcos Baghdatis for a place in the last 16 after pulling off the biggest upset of the tornament so far.

"It was extremely physical out there. I was playing on adrenaline," said 24-year-old Harrison who was as high as 43 in the world in 2012. "This is a big win for me."

Raonic, considered as a potential title dangerman in New York, hit 18 aces and 69 winners but committed 62 unforced errors.

Harrison has now reached the third round of a Slam for the first time after recording just a second win over a top 10 opponent in 27 meetings.

"I started cramping midway through the second set. There was a lot of nerves and stress," said 25-year-old Raonic who claimed that the pain eventually spread to his back and arms and that, as a result, he was unable to carry his bags.

Djokovic made the last 32 of a major for the 33rd successive time without hitting a ball when Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic withdrew from their second round encounter suffering an inflammation of the left forearm.

Vesely's misfortune was a welcome boost for world number one Djokovic, who had required treatment on his upper right arm in his laboured first round win over Jerzy Janowicz on Monday.

Left-hander Vesely had defeated the Serb at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

Djokovic will face 34-year-old Russian Mikhail Youzhny, twice a semi-finalist, on Friday for a place in the last 16.

Former number one Caroline Wozniacki, the US Open runner-up in 2009 and 2014 but who has slipped to 74 in the world after a season decimated by a right ankle injury, defeated 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-4.

The 26-year-old Dane recovered from 0-4 down in the first set to record a seventh win in eight meetings and third in New York over the ninth-seeded Russian.

Britain's Johanna Konta, the 13th seed, collapsed on court with heat sickness before completing a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova.

After a medical timeout, the Briton dropped the set before heading off on a lengthy toilet break which did little to help her opponent's composure.

"I'm a little embarrassed. I'm not a fan of drama. I did the best that I could with the cards that I had," said Konta.

Angelique Kerber, the second seeded Australian Open champion, made the last 32 by seeing off 34-year-old Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia 6-2, 7-6 (9/7).

Kerber faces either Shelby Rogers or CiCi Bellis, both of the United States, for a place in the last 16.

- Nadal eyes last 32 -

Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, the 14th seeded Czech who recorded her best performance in New York 12 months ago when she made the last eight, beat Turkey's Cagla Buyukakcay 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.

Kvitova was in her trademark all-or-nothing mood, mixing up 31 winners with 30 unforced errors against her 26-year-old opponent.

Kvitova now plays Ukrainian 22nd seed Elina Svitolina who put out Lauren Davis of the United States 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Britain's Kyle Edmund backed up his first round win over world number 15 Richard Gasquet with a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 victory over US wildcard Ernesto Escobedo on the back of 53 winners.

John Inser of the United States fired 38 aces to beat Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (10/12), 6-3 and next faces Edmund.

Later Wednesday, Spanish fourth seed Rafael Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion, takes a 7-1 career record over Italy's Andreas Seppi into their night time clash.

Reigning Roland Garros champion and third seed Garbine Muguruza of Spain tackles Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova.

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U.S. OPEN: Nadal, Kerber breeze at US Open, Muguruza survives

NEW YORK -- Rafael Nadal and Angelique Kerber shrugged off sweltering temperatures to reach the US Open second round Monday as French Open champion Garbine Muguruza survived a worrying health scare.

Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion, took his perfect first round record in New York to 12-0 with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.

The Spaniard's reward for a fifth win in five meetings against the Russian-born player is a match-up with Italian veteran Andreas Seppi.

A wrist injury forced Nadal into an early retirement at the French Open and sidelined him from Wimbledon before a gold medal run in the doubles at the Olympics helped ease his misery.

"The most important thing is that I am here in New York. Injuries are part of the career. I had a hard time this year," said the fourth seed.

Kerber needed just over 30 minutes to get her pursuit of a first US Open title off to a winning start.

The second seed and Australian Open champion was leading Polona Hercog 6-0, 1-0 when the Slovenian called it quits, clearly wilting in the 33-degree heat, having won just nine points.

"It's not the way I wanted to win, but I am playing well and feeling good," said the German star.

Kerber, a semi-finalist in 2011, next faces Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia.

Spanish third seed Muguruza carved out a gritty 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 win over Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens, ranked at 137.

But the French Open champion needed courtside treatment from a doctor after dropping the first set on the Louis Armstrong Court.

The consultation certainly worked as she reeled off the next seven games to lay the foundation for her win.

Muguruza plays Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia for a place in the last 32.

French 13th seed Richard Gasquet, a semi-finalist three years ago, was the day's biggest casualty.

He went down to 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to British world number 84 Kyle Edmund.

America's John Isner, seeded 20, almost joined Gasquet at the exit before coming back from two sets down to beat 18-year-old compatriot Frances Tiafoe.

Isner, who fired 35 aces, triumphed 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) after three and a half hours against the youngest player in the draw.

Croatian seventh seed Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion, eased past Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-4, 7-5, 6-1.

Flamboyant French 10th seed Gael Monfils took his summer hardcourt record to 15-2 with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 win over Gilles Muller of Luxemburg.

Monfils almost suffered a freak accident when a giant courtside clock fell towards him as he collided with the back wall, chasing down a Muller shot.

"When you are in the moment you don't feel really anything. Just jump. I saw a wall, but it was quite lucky," admitted Monfils.

Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 champion, needed only 58 minutes to beat old rival Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-2.

The pair famously played the longest women's match of all time at the 2011 Australian Open where Schiavone saved six match points in a four hour 44-minute marathon.

Double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beat Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-3 while former world number one and two-time US Open runner-up Caroline Wozniacki downed US qualifier Taylor Townsend 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The Flushing Meadows complex was showcasing its gleaming $600 million refit which includes a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe and a brand new Grandstand court.

However, the old Grandstand court, due to be demolished after the tournament, was pressed into action after Court 10 was deemed unplayable.

Later Monday, world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic, whose last major ended in a shock third round exit at Wimbledon, starts against Jerzy Janowicz of Poland.

Djokovic, the 2011 and 2015 champion, admits he is "not 100 percent" after suffering a wrist injury on the eve of the Olympics where he was a first-round loser.

Women's top seed Serena Williams and 2012 champion Andy Murray will get underway on Tuesday.

Williams is chasing a record seventh US Open and will equal Steffi Graf's record of 186 successive weeks at world number one.

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Murray set for historic match, Puig wins first gold for Puerto Rico

RIO DE JANEIRO - Britain's Andy Murray set up a meeting with Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in the Olympics men's tennis final on Sunday, as he aims to become the first player to retain the singles title.

Meanwhile, Monica Puig clinched the women's singles gold medal for Puerto Rico, defeating Germany's Angelique Kerber. With the victory, the U.S. territory won its first ever Olympic gold medal, and its ninth medal in history.

Del Potro, who entered the Olympic tournament unseeded but gained a huge boost of confidence by defeating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first round, earned his spot in the finals by narrowly defeating Spain's Rafael Nadal.

Ranked 141st in the world after two years plagued by injury, Del Potro came back from a set down against Nadal to win the day, prevailing in a tense tie-break in the decisive third set.

The 27-year-old Argentine, who stands 6 feet 6 inches (1.98m), deployed his barrelling serve and crushing forehand to outmatch Nadal 5-7 6-4 7-6(5).

If he can muster the same kind of power against Murray, the Olympic final is likely to be a thriller.

Murray, 29, defeated Roger Federer of Switzerland to win the gold medal in men's singles in London, where Del Potro was the bronze medallist.

Asked about the prospect of winning a second straight Olympic singles gold, Murray said: "It would mean a lot. It's obviously not an easy thing to do - that's why it has not been done before."

Murray's victory on Saturday was far easier for him. He defeated Japan's Kei Nishikori in a commanding display.

The Wimbledon champion and world No. 2 broke Nishikori's serve early on, breezing through the first set 6-1.

Murray served aggressively and quickly closed out the match 6-1 6-4, never giving Nishikori a single chance to break back.

"I think I played really well," Murray told reporters after the match. "I didn't give him any opportunities on my serves and I was very aggressive when I was returning."

BLUE-AND-WHITE FANS

 In the battle between Del Potro and Nadal, the players traded long, bruising rallies to split the first two sets, and each broke the other's serve in the final set. Nadal came up short in the tie-break.

Del Potro has created trouble for the Spanish star before, beating him on his way to a victory at the U.S. Open in 2009, but the Argentine's performance has been inconsistent since that year, and he has been hampered by injury for most of the last two years.

"It means something very big for my career," Del Potro told reporters. "I didn't expect to reach the final beating Djokovic and Rafa."

Del Potro seemed to draw energy from a blue-and-white-clad contingent of fans from Argentina, whose loud chanting from the rafters - typical of Argentine soccer matches - at times drew rebukes from the chair umpire on Saturday.

He entreated the crowd to "treat both players fairly," and at one point reminded them that "this is a tennis match."

Nadal has already claimed a gold medal in Rio with a doubles victory on Friday with partner Marc Lopez. The Spaniard has shown tremendous grit throughout the Rio tournament after months without training. Prior to the Games, Nadal was sidelined with a wrist injury that forced him to sit out Wimbledon this year.

"I just congratulate Del Potro for a great, great event for him," Nadal said after the loss. "I just tried my best until the end, and I'm very satisfied."

PUERTO RICO'S PUIG WINS TERRITORY'S FIRST GOLD

In the Olympic women's singles final, Puerto Rico's Puig defeated Kerber in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, to win the island's first gold medal. With the win, Puig also became the first woman ever to win a medal for Puerto Rico.

Twenty-two-year-old Puig, ranked No. 34 in the world, went into the match as the underdog against Kerber, this year's Australian Open champion.

To reach the final, Puig had already defeated two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the semi-finals along the way.

Puig put on an impressive performance on Rio's centre court, amid cheers of "Si, se puede" ("Yes, you can") from fans waving Puerto Rican flags. She was able to hit ground stroke winners from all over the court, often painting the lines, and leaving Kerber, the world's No. 2 female player, struggling to effectively deploy her signature, punchy counter-attacking style of play.

Also on Saturday, Kvitova of Czech Republic defeated Madison Keys of the United States to win the bronze medal in the women's draw in three sets, 7-5 2-6 6-2.

American Venus Williams also secured a spot in the mixed doubles final scheduled for Sunday. Win or lose, Williams will become the second tennis player in history to claim five medals at the Olympics.

(Additional reporting by Drazen Jorgic.; Editing by Alison Williams and Bill Rigby)

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