Angelique Kerber’s triumphal march ended in the semifinals of the Cincinnati WTA tournament. Against the Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty, the 33-year-old from Kiel lost 2: 6, 5: 7 on Saturday despite a fiercely strong performance and thus missed her third final in Ohio after 2012 and 2016. She had lost the final on both occasions.
For the three-time Grand Slam winner Kerber, it was the second defeat in the past 16 matches. Previously, she had also lost to Barty in the Wimbledon semi-finals, who now lead 4-2 in a direct comparison. In the world rankings that will appear on Monday, Kerber is in 18th place, the last time it was listed in January 2020.
Kerber was already 2: 6, 0: 2 behind, but then fought vehemently against the impending defeat and took Barty’s serve twice. Kerber missed the chance to increase to 4: 2 with his own service. Instead, the strong serving Barty (twelve aces, one double fault) prevailed after 74 minutes of total playing time. Even if Kerber missed her eighth Tour title on hard court, she can also be expected in her current form at the US Open in New York (August 30th to September 12th). In 2016 she triumphed in Flushing Meadows.
Laura Siegemund has meanwhile canceled her start at the US Open due to a knee injury. The 33-year-old from Metzingen had only undergone an operation at the beginning of August. In 2020 Siegemund won the women’s doubles at the US Open alongside Wera Swonarewa (Russia).