In the quarter-finals of the WTA tournament in Indian Wells, Germany’s number one Angelique Kerber will face Russian Daria Kasatkina.
Quarter finals in Indian Wells – with German participation. Angelique Kerber is on her way to old dominance and fights Daria Kasatkina for the semi-finals in California.
Kasatkina, a young, powerful Russian woman with the well-known social media star coach. In an announcement during a match Philippe Dehaes explained to his protégé that the weather was so nice and that she should play and fight for another two hours – the internet fame was safe for the Belgian.
The style of play and the latest results of the 20-year-olds also caused a stir. On her way to be among the top eight players in Indian Wells, Kasatkina knocked world number one Caroline Wozniacki and US opener Slaone Stephens out of the tournament. Now a strong and self-confident Angelique Kerber is waiting for the semi-final ticket.
You can watch the match live on DAZN or in our Liveticker from 19:00 clock (CET).
Germany’s number one now seems to have finally wiped out all the doubts of the past season and said:”I am glad that the year 2017 is over. Not only that, the Kieler seems to improve from tournament to tournament and seems better and fitter than ever before.
And: The longer the tournament, the better the 30-year-old gets. Fear opponent Ekaterina Makarova was a tough opponent at the start and Kerber had to go over three sets. Elena Vesnina was already better than the current number ten in the world and the French Caroline Garcia just played two games in her match against the former number one. Especially the performance against a strong Garcia was impressive. Kerber did not show any hesitation or even doubt. On the contrary. Wild resolutely, the two-time Major-winner is acting on the baseline and obviously enjoys her work at the moment.
Against Kasatkina it will be another match. The ten years younger Russian acts poisonously from the baseline and goes carelessly on the balls on top of it.
A big advantage for Kerber will be the experience and the necessary coolness in crucial phases. Kerber is familiar with such situations and has often been in a tournament in such rounds. The pressure situation is not unknown to the Kieler, but Kasatkina has to get used to this hustle and bustle and the increasing attention.
More aggressive in the game is Kasatkina, which Kerber can make up for with her sometimes seemingly impossible defensive strokes. An open exchange of blows, that’s what fans in the Californian desert will expect. Physically, both players are at the top level. The service could make a difference. Kerber is three centimetres taller and has created a real weapon with her modified impact movement under coach Wim Fissette. Again and again, the German frees herself from dicey situations with well-placed serves or serves played at extreme angles. Kasatkina does not yet possess this ability and could be the famous point of reference on the scales.
The ladies’ single tableau in Indian Wells