WTA finals: Angelique Kerber misses semi-final after defeat against Stephens

Angelique Kerber missed the semi-finals at the WTA finals in Singapore and was eliminated in the group stage. The 30-year-old lost with 3:6 and 3:6 against the US-American Sloane Stephens.

The pressure before the decisive duel against Sloane Stephens was great for Angelique Kerber. Due to Naomi Osaka’s injury-related abandonment of Kiki Bertens, a place in the semi-finals of the WTA finals had already been lost. Only one victory could bring the German into the round of the last four.

But there was no pressure on the number one seedlist and Kerber played great and aggressive tennis. Right at the start of the game, the Kielerin earned herself several breakballs, but Stephens stayed cool and withstood the powerful tennis of her opponent.

Stephens found her game better, pushed Kerber further and further behind the baseline, set a break at 2:2 and took the lead with 3:2. The 24-year-old from the USA continued to increase her level and used a weak phase of Kerber mercilessly.

Another break for Stephens to lead 5-2 made Kerber despair and Stephens beat one winner after the other. Even after a re-break by Kerber, Stephens turned her fourth set point into a deserved 6:3 after 46 minutes.

“What am I supposed to do?” it echoed through the arena in Singapore and Kerber looked questioningly into her box. In the first service game in set two, Kerber faced two break points, but saved himself with a big fight.

The fight should be the decisive factor in “Angies” game. The 30-year-old did not lose a ball and fought for every point. At the score of 1:2, Stephens earned seven break points, broke through Kerber’s resistance and took the lead with 3:1.

The American immediately lost her lead and Kerber answered with an immediate re-break to 2:3. At 4:3 the fighting spirit of Kerber was finally broken, Stephens grabbed the break and took the lead with 5:3.

After 1:42 hours Stephens was the winner and the group out for Kerber was sealed. Stephens, the group winner of the red group, will face Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals, who came second in the group and won the semi-finals ticket.