Kerber downs Watson in Monterrey quarter-final

http://gty.im/652988954

By Ros Satar

  • Angelique Kerber [1] def. Heather Watson 6-4 6-4
  • Next up for Watson – new tournament in Biel
MONTERREY, MEXICO – World No. 1 and top seed Angelique Kerber ended Heather Watson’s title defence in straight sets.

 

CLICK TO BUY TENNIS TICKETS


Angelique Kerber [1] def. Heather Watson 6-4 6-4

It may have been a straight sets win for Angelique Kerber, but it at times it was a tough battle for her to edge defending champion Heather Watson. The German was focussed on maintaining her aggressive game but Watson may have been buoyed with a little confidence as she stayed toe-to-toe with Kerber until the middle of the first set.

A break for Kerber prompted Watson to put her under real pressure on her own serve, bringing up her own break point chances but will have been frustrated by not having been able to convert of any of her four chances. Even as Kerber was serving for the first set, Watson fended off a set point, as well has earning another break point but again could not get any leeway on Kerber’s serve as she wrapped up the first set on her second set point.

Kerber struck first at the start of the second set with an immediate break but Watson is nothing if not tenacious, battling through almost 10 minutes of a service game to hold her serve and deny Kerber a chance to run off with the match.

There are some positives for Watson, even if it might not feel like it right now. Firstly she has finally hooked up a back to back win this season, if we discount her Fed Cup heroics earlier in the year. She will be a pivotal part of the GB team as they fly to Romania to attempt to get into World Group II, but before that she is off to the inaugural tournament in Biel for some clay court time.

It is a long way back to her former position, but hopefully a run to the quarter-finals will go some way to restoring her confidence for the season ahead.

The Monterrey semi-finals line up will be Kerber v Carla Suárez Navarro [7] and Julia Boserup v Timea Babos, to be played on Saturday.