Angelique Kerber has reached the Wimbledon finals for the second time since 2016 thanks to a very cool performance and will reach for her third Grand Slam title on Saturday on the most famous Centre Court in the tennis universe. The tenth in the world ranking defeated former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia/No. 12) 6-3, 6-3. Kerber will now face Julia Görges (Bad Oldesloe/No. 13) or 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams (USA) in the final.
By Ulrike Weinrich from Wimbledon
After 1:07 hours Kerber turned the second match point in her seventh major semi-final since 2011 and looked overjoyed into her box, in which her coach Wim Fissette and her mother Beata, among others, cheered.
“It’s such a great feeling to be back in the final here. I knew the game against Jelena would be tough, but I moved well. I’m just happy,” Kerber said. Two years ago, the left-hander had reached the final on Church Road, but lost to Serena Williams in two sets.
Barbara Rittner, women’s head of the DTB, was also enthusiastic about her number one: “Angie did a great job. She stayed calm and played constantly. She’s the best player here for me. “I said after her strong start to the season that she would win Wimbledon this year.”
With a coup in the grass mecca, Kerber could add the most important title in world tennis to her collection. The woman from Kiel had won the Australian Open and the US Open in her fairytale season 2016 and had stormed to the top of the world rankings – as the first German after Steffi Graf.
Ostapenko started with the usual pressure in front of about 15,000 spectators, although she made a double mistake right at the beginning. Four years ago, the Latvian won the Wimbledon Junior title, and the French Open triumph in 2017 made her a folk heroine. Even a stamp with the 21-year-old’s portrait was issued. On the first day 55,000 units were already sold.
The first break point of the semi-final was won in the first game, however, by Kerber. But Ostapenko straightened things out with a forehand winning stroke and took the lead with an ace. Symptomatic of her risky move: After three games she already had twelve winners (!) and eight unforced mistakes (!) on the bill. It was therefore difficult for Kerber to find her rhythm. Again and again a murmur went through the crowd when Ostapenko unpacked one of her hammer blows.
The 21-year-old had entered the round of the last four without losing a set, Kerber had needed three rounds against the numerically weakest opponent in round two. After that, however, the former number one had continuously improved.
Kerber fended off a break point against Ostapenko in the sixth game – strong as nerves with an ace. Immediately afterwards, in front of icon Billie Jean King, she finally took her third chance to take the service off the Latvian in the ominous seventh game. A little later Ostapenko “gave” her the first set after 34 minutes with her second double mistake. The German looked resolutely into her box and showed the winning fist.
While Kerber had only allowed himself two Unforced Errors so far, “All-or-nothing”-Ostapenko came up with 19 unforced mistakes (18 winners). As a result, the two-time Grand Slam winner became more and more dominant, and the Latvian player visibly retired and relinquished her serve to 0:2. However, she did not yet admit defeat, although Kerber showed no weaknesses on his own serve for a long time.
Although she missed out on a 5-1 lead to win the match and lost two matches in a row, Kerber made it to the final shortly afterwards.
Kerber had not dared to experiment on Wednesday off and had gone through her routine – among other things with a one-hour training session at lunchtime. She was then treated by her physio André Kreidler, who had already looked after the German ice hockey silver boys at the 2018 Winter Olympics. In the evening Kerber watched the semi-final of the World Cup between England and Croatia (1:2) on TV.
Since the beginning of the tournament, the Fed Cup player has been extremely focused as if she were on a mission. Once again, “Team Kerber” has rented a house very close to the complex. At least here “Angie” relies on variety: It is a different accommodation every year. Otherwise she relies on her usual daily routine. On Thursday Kerber and Coach Fissette had taken part from 10.30 to 11.00 am. As usual on Court 14, the most secluded spot on the practice area in Aorangi Park.
On Thursday afternoon, Julia Görges still has the chance to make the first German women’s final in Wimbledon since 1931 perfect: 87 years ago Cilly Aussem and Hilde Krahwinkel had met on the holy lawn.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login