WTA: Final!

Eighth game, eighth victory: Angelique Kerber has continued her winning streak in 2018 and reaches for her first title since the US Open 2016 in the final of the WTA tournament in Sydney.

The former world number one from Kiel won the semi-final against Camila Giorgi from Italy after 1:14 hours 6:2,6:3.

On Saturday, two days before the Australian Open in Melbourne, Kerber will face Ashleigh Barty in the final (7:00 a. m. CET, DAZN). Both previous duels with the Australian have taken place last year, with Kerber taking the lead at the season opener in Brisbane and Barty winning the final in Zhuhai. In 2017, Kerber had only reached the final in Monterrey, Mexico.

For Kerber it is the second final after 2014 in Sydney, continuing her upward trend after the crash in 2017. At the Hopman Cup in Perth she did not give a set in four singles, but in the Olympic city of 2000 she improved from match to match after the trembling win over Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic,”I am overjoyed to be in the final of the first tournament of the season,”said Kerber at the court:”I am looking forward to the duel with Ash. She’s so young and talented, I’m sure it’s going to be a tough match.”

In Melbourne, Kerber (29) will meet Anna-Lena Friedsam (Neuwied) for the start of the German duel. In the third round, the Russian Maria Sharapova could wait for the tournament winner of the year 2016:”The draw is difficult for many, for Angie it’s okay. But an unseeded Sharapova in the third round is of course dangerous,”said national coach Barbara Rittner.