“Every match we played against each other was really close”, said Kerber, 28, the reigning Australian Open champion. He asked Darren during the match where I had a set and 5-0, ‘Why is Simona angry at this moment?’ I don’t know how to answer, because it happens.
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“I definitely think I wasn’t serving as well today”, said Keys”. It feels nice that 40 years later I won here in Montreal. Keys is very risky when she plays her power game while not mixing in much unforced errors. “This is sometimes, I think, the problem”.
“She had a very emotional week”, said the Rock Island native Keys.
Halep improved her career record against Keys to 3-1, having beaten the American over three sets in their most recent meeting at Wimbledon earlier this month, and will rise to third when the world rankings are issued on Monday. She called the Bucharest event “a small tournament” that nonetheless showed she was playing strong tennis. “We ve played a lot of good matches in the past”. “I can return all the heavy balls that she was hitting today”.
This is a first Coupe Rogers final for the American, who knows that a win on Sunday could move her up to as high as world number seven as she looks to continue a stunning run of form that has seen her win 21 of 24 matches since the early part of May.
Madison Keys, of the United States, serves to Kristina Kucova, of Slovakia, during a semifinal at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament Saturday, July 30, 2016, in Montreal.
“Actually, when I started the tournament, I said with the prize money from doubles I will go shopping”, Halep said.
Tough pick, but I like Halep to win the Rogers Cup.
After her singles victory, Halep and countrywoman Monica Niculescu teamed to beat Slovenia’s Andreja Klepac and Katarina Srebotnik 6-3, 2-6, 10-6 in the doubles semifinals. Halep had the only breakers of the final set, succeeding in her lone break point opportunity.
“I feel like home with all the Romanians and also you Canadians”. Kerber, meanwhile, went 6-2, 6-2 against Daria Kasatkina.
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Kucova eliminated British 15th-seed Johanna Konta 6-4 6-3 in the night match. Plus, as great as it is that the 121st-ranked Kucova has been able to put together such an impressive run after qualifying, I suspect that it will end at the hands of a quality player such as Madison Keys.
