Angelique Kerber is eliminated in the quarter-finals of the WTA tournament in Miami. The former world number one lost to US Open winner Sloane Stephens (USA) 1:6, 2:6 without a chance and thus missed the semi-finals as she did in Indian Wells.
In California, the Kieler lost 0:6, 2:6 against the Russian Daria Kasatkina in the round of the last eight.
Kerber won her fourth defeat in the fifth duel with her fearful opponent. This means that there is no longer a German player in Miami. For Stephens, who had already failed in the first round of the Australian Open and had a weak start to the season, this is the first semi-final appearance in 2018.
The 30-year-old Kerber, who entered the round of the last eight the day before with a three-hour effort (6:7, 7:6, 6:3) against the Chinese qualifier Wang Yafan, seemed tired and took quick breaks at 1:3 and 1:5. After 23 minutes, Stephens, five years younger, secured the first set.
In the second set Kerber played better at first, but then after four break points he gave up her serve for 2:3. After Kerber could not take a chance for a direct rebreak, she did not recover from it anymore.
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