US Open: Angelique Kerber fights her way into round three

As expected, Angelique Kerber has entered the third round of the US Open 2018. The German number one defeated Johanna Larsson after a clear lead after three sets.

By Jens Huiber from New York City

Forehand slice, backhand slice, whatever. The main thing is to get to the grid. The direction at Arthur Ashe Stadium didn’t miss a beat on Thursday and played in some scenes from the 1974 women’s final when Evonne Goolagong and Billie-Jean King faced each other. The last women’s match on grass, one that is said to last for eternity.

The performance of Angelique Kerber against Johanna Larsson will perhaps also be remembered in a few days, as a milestone to the fourth Grand Slam title of the German number one. Kerber won 6:2, 5:7 and 6:4 after a clear lead in 153 minutes and is now playing Dominika Cibulkova.

Johanna Larsson offers a very well-kept tennis, the forehand usually comes with speed and spin over the net. Alone: Kerber, who won the final on the spot against Karolina Pliskova in 2016, had no problem with that. As in the previous three duels with the Swede. Larsson had won a total of ten games in the joint history in six sets played.

Forehand slice, backhand slice, with these strokes Kerber is also per you, especially the backhand often twirled the world ranking fourth breathtakingly deep over the net. And on occasion, he also made pressure with her driving strokes. On every occasion. Usually until Larsson couldn’t put a counterattack.

That Angelique Kerber then also used Smashs from the baseline directly to points should have given the Kieler additional self-confidence for the coming days. Actually. One victory finally, then Kerber has reached the second week. “And there’s hardly anyone playing better than Angie,” Adidas coach Mats Merkel knew before the match against Larsson.

The Swede, however, fought back once more with the defeat, Kerber could not escape at 5:2. And missed her first two match points in the next game. If Kerber had taken a challenge, the second could have been scored in favour of the Germans. at least that was what the TV pictures suggested. However, the script did not provide for Larsson not only to equalize, but even to set it at 6:5. Especially since Kerber now also sunk a smash into the net. And actually delivered the set with 5:7.

The ten-minute break due to the heat, however, seemed to take away some of Larsson’s momentum, Kerber started the match with three break points. Three forgiven. The favourite, however, made up for this in her third game – just to take the equaliser again. Next exit: seventh game, again Kerber took the lead with a break. Larsson’s comeback followed immediately, of course, Kerber threw in a few moonballs in vain.

One break went in this match – and Kerber succeeded. Larsson helped friendly with a double mistake, the German had no objections. And at Angelique Kerber’s third chance everything went well, finally. Not without problems, but after 2:23 hours Kerber processed her third match point to move into round three.

Here is the women’s single tableau at the US Open 2018