Kerber advanced to the Western & Southern Open semifinals Friday, staying on track to overtake Williams at No. 1.
Advertisement
After Williams withdrew from the hardcourt warmup for the U.S. Open due to an inflamed shoulder, Kerber became the de facto top seed in the tournament and the favorite to claim the title.
A win on Sunday over 15th-seeded Karolina Pliskova would move Kerber to the top spot in next week’s rankings.
Angelique Kerber, the second seed at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati is playing some of the best tennis of her life in 2016, and she is two wins away from overtaking Serena Williams as the new world number one for the first time in her career.
Williams has been in the top spot for 183 consecutive weeks, the second-longest such stretch in WTA history.
The men’s bracket provides an opportunity for second-tier players to move up for a week. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer skipped the tournament, and Rafael Nadal was knocked out early as he plays back into shape following a severe wrist injury.
“I’m very excited that I’m in the semifinals here because, I haven’t won a lot of matches here in the past”, Muguruza said. John Isner overcame two delays while beating Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-2, aided by the Italian’s four double faults in the second set. “Everybody’s reminding me. But on the court, I’m really trying to focus and play my best tennis”.
Pliskova will await a Sunday showdown against the victor from the second semi-final between Olympic silver medallist Angelique Kerber and the Romanian Simona Halep.
Kerber has had a stellar 2016 major season despite a disappointing first-round exit at the French Open.
Andy Murray extended his successful summer – another Wimbledon title, another Olympic gold medal – by reaching the final as well, giving him a chance for a third Cincinnati championship.
“I’m really happy I’m back here in Cincinnati, I have great memories from previous year”.
The Romanian was within a point of taking the 10th game to deuce in her quest to bring the set back on serve, when Kerber broke a string on her racquet and a startled Halep mis-hit her backhand return wide to end the match.
“I think there is a black cloud following the WTA this year”, she said about persistent rain.
“I was thinking about whether to go to Rio or not, and there were more reasons why I made a decision to not go, but I think it was a good step for me”. A lot of things have changed but I’ll still a few matches away from number one.
One of the Big Four has won 54 of the last 58 Masters events.
Advertisement
“I’m not going to be fresh”, Murray said.
