Wimbledon 2017: Angelique Kerber hits her stride
LONDON: World No.1 Angelique Kerber - looking to leave behind a wretched run on clay, where she won just two matches, bowing out in the first round of the French Open - said life at the top was 'more pressure, more expectations'. She even threw in, 'more things to do'. "It's easier to get to the top than it is to stay there," the German noted, a hollow ring to her smile.
Her No.1 ranking under threat from the powerful Czech Karolina Pliskova and the stubborn Romanian Simona Halep, Kerber appeared to find her footing against the 247th-ranked qualifier Irina Falconi. The 29-year-old beat the American 6-4, 6-4 in her Wimbledon opener on Tuesday.
For most part of the 1 hour 27-minute clash, Kerber played from some three feet behind the baseline, running, reaching, stretching as her opponent powered forehand winners. Then slowly, Kerber, who made 2016 her own, stepped in, stealthily putting herself in a position of strength on Centre Court.
By the time Kerber - who made the quarterfinals at Eastbourne last week, winning back-to-back matches for the first time in more than a month - finished, she was playing from well within the baseline. She took the ball early, her left-handed punches opening out the court and finding the lines once again. She closed out with a decisive forehand winner.
The world No.1, who drew strength from the memories of 12-months ago, when she played her heart out in the final against Serena Williams on the same court, flaunted the fight once again. Kerber, who has made one final so far this year, in Monterrey, will play Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens in the second round on Thursday.
"I'm on my way. In the last few months I had a few ups and downs," Kerber, who was increasingly beginning to resemble a queen without a crown, in the first half of the year, said. "There are a lot of things that I've learned, new experiences I have had. Now I'm feeling good. I was practicing good in the last few weeks after Paris. This is the first step I did today."
Kerber, who needs to at least reach the title round to give herself a shot at retaining the top ranking, said, she wasn't looking at the number against her name. "It's in my mind to playing good tennis again, to winning matches. This is my goal for here and for the next match," she finished. Another player attempting to thread it together after hitting a rough road with injuries, Argentine powerhouse Juan Martin Del Potro also survived a challenging opening encounter. The 29th seed came through 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 against the dangerous Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakas in a shade over three-hours to set up a second-round meeting with Lativia's Ernest Gulbis.
Her No.1 ranking under threat from the powerful Czech Karolina Pliskova and the stubborn Romanian Simona Halep, Kerber appeared to find her footing against the 247th-ranked qualifier Irina Falconi. The 29-year-old beat the American 6-4, 6-4 in her Wimbledon opener on Tuesday.
For most part of the 1 hour 27-minute clash, Kerber played from some three feet behind the baseline, running, reaching, stretching as her opponent powered forehand winners. Then slowly, Kerber, who made 2016 her own, stepped in, stealthily putting herself in a position of strength on Centre Court.
By the time Kerber - who made the quarterfinals at Eastbourne last week, winning back-to-back matches for the first time in more than a month - finished, she was playing from well within the baseline. She took the ball early, her left-handed punches opening out the court and finding the lines once again. She closed out with a decisive forehand winner.
The world No.1, who drew strength from the memories of 12-months ago, when she played her heart out in the final against Serena Williams on the same court, flaunted the fight once again. Kerber, who has made one final so far this year, in Monterrey, will play Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens in the second round on Thursday.
"I'm on my way. In the last few months I had a few ups and downs," Kerber, who was increasingly beginning to resemble a queen without a crown, in the first half of the year, said. "There are a lot of things that I've learned, new experiences I have had. Now I'm feeling good. I was practicing good in the last few weeks after Paris. This is the first step I did today."
Kerber, who needs to at least reach the title round to give herself a shot at retaining the top ranking, said, she wasn't looking at the number against her name. "It's in my mind to playing good tennis again, to winning matches. This is my goal for here and for the next match," she finished. Another player attempting to thread it together after hitting a rough road with injuries, Argentine powerhouse Juan Martin Del Potro also survived a challenging opening encounter. The 29th seed came through 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 against the dangerous Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakas in a shade over three-hours to set up a second-round meeting with Lativia's Ernest Gulbis.
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