Kerber in many happy returns
Angelique Kerber smiled and waved her arms like an orchestra conductor as the Rod Laver Arena crowd sang Happy Birthday after her 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2 second-round win yesterday at the Australian Open.
The defending champion didn’t enjoy the entire performance on her 29th birthday, angrily swiping her racquet in the second set in a burst of frustration that momentarily threw her off her game — and allowed Carina Witthoeft back into the match.
Top-ranked Kerber was cool and controlled in the first set, but struggled against some deep, powerful forehands late in the second.
In the tiebreaker, she led 3-2 but double-faulted twice — once on either side of the change of ends — and didn’t win another point as Witthoeft levelled the match.
The tension mounted when she dropped her serve to open the third set, but Kerber recovered her composure and took a 4-1 lead, saving two break points in the fifth game.
Witthoeft, who had lost both her previous matches to Kerber, skewed a forehand wide on match point, then went to the net, shook hands and gave her fellow German a kiss on each cheek.
“I’m always playing on my birthday — always in Australia,” said Kerber, who had her major breakthrough in Melbourne last year by beating Serena Williams in the final. She later won the US Open and replaced Williams as the world No 1. “I feel like at home here. I’m 29. I’m getting older, but I think I’ll have a great day today.”
Speaking of age, Venus Williams had to field questions about getting older after energetic performance in her 6-3, 6-2 second-round win over Stefanie Voegele.
The 36-year-old, seven-time singles major winner played the first of her record 73 Grand Slam tournaments at the French Open in 1997. Back then, she got to play against the likes of Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova.
“I have to talk about this every interview,” Williams said. “I’ve played some of the greats.”
“It’s an honour and privilege to start that young,” she added, laughing, “and play this old.”
Former world men’s No 1 Roger Federer has overcome a stern challenge from American qualifier Noah Rubin to advance to the third round 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka advanced with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over American Steve Johnson.
ASB Classic champion Jack Sock, the 23rd seed in Melbourne, won his second-round match by the same score against Russian Karen Khachanov.
Fifth-ranked Kei Nishikori reached the third round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over Jeremy Chardy. — AP