KERBER LOSES IT
Dethroned as No.1 after defeat to Muguruza
London, July 10: Angelique Kerber crashed out of Wimbledon and lost her hold on the world number one ranking, while fivetime champion Venus Williams became the oldest All England Club quarterfinalist in 23 years on Monday.
Defending champion Andy Murray reached a 10th successive Wimbledon quarter-final with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-4 win over Benoit Paire of France. The world number one will face either Sam Querrey of the United States or South Africa’s Kevin Anderson for a place in the semifinals.
Johanna Konta, the bookmakers’ favourite for the title, became the first British woman to reach the quarter-finals since Jo Durie in 1984.
Kerber was beaten 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Spanish 14th seed Garbine Muguruza as the German’s fourth round exit extended a miserable run for last year’s Wimbledon runner-up.
The 29-year-old, who lost to Serena Williams in the final 12 months ago, has failed to make the quarterfinals at any of this year’s three Grand Slams.
Kerber was unfazed by her ranking blow, saying: “I know the feeling already to be No.1. I know the feeling to be No.2, in the top 10. It was the best match for a long time for me, so I think I’m still on a good way even though I lost.”
Simona Halep, the Romanian world number two, defeated Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 and will be guaranteed top spot if she beats Konta in the last eight.
If Halep, a two-time French Open runner-up, loses to the Briton, then Czech world number three Pliskova will be the new number one despite losing in the second round.
Former US and French Open champion Kuznetsova, 32, reached her first Wimbledon quarter-final in 10 years with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Polish ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Granted showcourt billing, Venus didn’t hang around as she crushed 19year-old Croatian Ana Konjuh 6-3, 6-2 on Centre Court.
Williams made her Grand Slam debut at the 1997 French Open, seven months before Konjuh was born. And at 37 years and 29 days, Venus is Wimbledon’s oldest female quarter-finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994.
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