Kerber storms into second Wimbledon final as Ostapenko misfires

LONDON: Angelique Kerber raced into her second Wimbledon final as the German crushed former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3 in just 67 minutes on Thursday.

Kerber took the express route to her a fourth Grand Slam title match with a ‘blink and you miss it’ demolition of Ostapenko on Centre Court.

The 30-year-old hit only 10 winners but that was all it took to get the job done as Ostapenko shot herself in the foot with 36 unforced errors.

Kerber faces seven-time champion Serena Williams or German 13th seed Julia Goerges in Saturday’s final.

“I was just trying to move good and take my chances. I’m so excited,” Kerber said.

“It’s such a great feeling to be back in the final. Playing on Centre Court is always great.”

Referencing her dismal form last year, Kerber added: “2017 is over and I’m really happy about that. We are in 2018!

“I’m really happy and proud to be in a Grand Slam final. These are the matches I was working for since I was a kid.”

Kerber was beaten by Williams in the 2016 Wimbledon showpiece.

It will be world number 10 Kerber’s first Grand Slam final since she won the second of her two major titles at the 2016 US Open.

Kerber is bidding to become the first German woman to win Wimbledon was Steffi Graf in 1996. — AFP