Angelique Kerber reaches the semi-final rounds – BNP Paribas Open 2013
World number six, Angelique Kerber of Germany, has made it to the semi-final round of BNP Paribas Open. She was supposed to compete against the seventh seeded, Samantha Stosur, in the quarter-final round of the tournament but the
Aussie number one withdrew from the contest due to a right calf injury, letting Kerber through to the semis of the WTA Premier Mandatory event in Indian Wells, USA.
Kerber has been in the semi-final round of a number of tournaments throughout the last WTA season but couldn’t make it to the title match of a Major event. If the 25-year-old German wins the upcoming semi-final battle, it will
be the biggest final of her career.
She will take on the likes of the former world number one, Caroline Wozniacki, in the semi-final brawl. Wozniacki also received a walkover in the round of eight when the top seeded defending champion, Victoria Azarenka, pulled
out of the tournament due to right ankle injury. The 10th ranked Dane has also got a lucky break to reach the round of four and has a perfect opportunity to end her title drought of the 2013 WTA season.
Kerber already leads 3-2 over Wozniacki in the all-time head-to-head series and is considered to be the hot favourite for winning the semi-final battle. The German has defeated Wozniacki in all of their last three encounters and
is very confident of sustaining her winning streak on Friday night as well.
"For sure it's better when you play and win the match to go to the semis," Kerber commented. "I didn't know this until I was ready for the match. Sam just told me after I warmed up that she couldn't play. She was trying to warm
up because she was coming after my practice. Of course it's bad luck. My rhythm now is a little bit different but I did my practice - I hit one hour after the situation came up - and now I'll have a day off to get ready for tomorrow. So it's okay for me. Tomorrow
it starts again from zero. I will focus on my things and have fun and play my tennis."
The other semi-final will be played between the second seed Maria Sharapova and her Russian compatriot, Maria Kirilenko, on Friday.
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