It was not easy mentally as well for Kerber: ‘Of course it was a lot of pressure and a lot of matches I had in the last three weeks, a lot of travel around the world actually.- she mentioned referring to the flight from Montreal to Miami before arriving to Rio – But I prefer to playing matches than practice.
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Kerber looked drained-as her 32 unforced errors affirmed-but the elegant Pliskova had played confidently, hitting 24 winners to just 16 from Kerber.
Kerber, basically running on fumes, never wilted. She lost only eight games in the semifinals and final combined en route to her sixth career title. Instead she handled herself with dignity all week while constantly peppered by the same question-over and over again-and with fire on the court, as she rolled into another Premier final.
“I would like to congratulate Karolina – you had an awesome week and played really well today”, Kerber said in her runner-up speech. Both matches went to three sets. “It was still-I had great three weeks with a lot of emotions”.
For so long when we have thought of the number one player in women’s tennis, it has been Serena Williams. Pliskova was a woman on the rise, and victory would take her to No11 in the rankings. And just last week she played in the Gold medal match and ended up winning the silver medal in Rio losing to Monica Puig.
“Also on court I was not thinking about this”, Kerber said on Sunday, after falling to Czech Karolina Pliskova in the final, 6-3, 6-1.
“I’m trying to enjoy my tennis, because it’s the best time of my career right now”, Kerber said in a courtside interview last week. Of course to be one day No. 1-it’s another goal.
“I am really exhausted”. We’ve shared, me and Martina have shared awesome memories together being No. 1.
Despite the loss Sunday, it’s been a career year for Kerber.
Williams had withdrawn from Cincinnati due to a shoulder injury but will be hoping to regain her fitness in time for the US Open in New York City.
“I had such a great year so far and it’s not over yet”, she said.
“It’s wonderful what’s happened in the last few months, it’s just incredible”. But I was trying to give everything, and I did it actually. Some days you’re losing matches; some days you win.
“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs the last few years and a lot of experiences from which I’ve learned”.
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Incredible, indeed. Kerber had started the year ranked No 10 in the world, 6,355 points behind Williams (9,945). That in and of itself is quite an achievement, says Kerber. If she keeps playing at the same level, with the same spirit, more chances will come to reach No 1.
