On-song Kerber advances to Singapore semi-finals with Cibulkova
Angelique Kerber posted her third straight win at the WTA Finals while Dominika Cibulkova seized her last chance to join the world No 1 in the semi-finals.
After losing her opening two matches, Cibulkova knew only a straight-sets win over Simona Halep and the same result for Kerber against Madison Keys would be enough to see her progress in Singapore.
And that is exactly what tran- spired, with Cibulkova winning a hard-fought match 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) before Kerber eased past Keys 6-3, 6-3.
Halep had her left knee heavily strapped and was clearly in some discomfort but, knowing she needed a set to keep her hopes alive, she battled bravely to force a decider. However, it was Slovakian seventh seed Cibulkova who won the second-set tie-break and the match.
The 27-year-old said afterwards: “This win is really, really big for me. I feel relieved. I’m really, really happy about my win, about the way I played
0 Angelique Kerber: Third win. and the way I handled the situation and the pressure. It seems like I’m playing my best tennis under the biggest pressure. To beat Simona in two
0 Dominika Cibulkova: Relief sets – knowing that if I want to go further in the tournament, I have to beat her in two sets. That made me even stronger in the second set.”
The result meant Kerber qualified for the semi-finals but she needed to beat Keys to secure top spot in the Red Group, while a set for the American would have sent her through instead of Cibulkova.
But the consistency of Kerber proved too much for debutante Keys, who dropped serve six times, winning just four of 20 points on her second serve.
In the semi-finals, Cibulkova will face White Group winner Svetlana Kuznetsova while Kerber will take on the winner of today’s clash between Agnieszka Radwanska and Karolina Pliskova. It’s been a wild season for Max Verstappen. The Dutch teenager has been promoted to Red Bull, become the youngest winner in Formula 1 history and bickered with some of the top teams and drivers. His aggressive tactics have even prompted a rules clarification for safety.
To many “Mad Max” is a much-needed dose of excitement for Formula 1 and a future champion. He seized on his chance to be fast and famous and won’t let go. “Why wait?” Verstappen said ahead of this weekend’s race in Mexico City. “I have a great car, a great team, and I want it all as quickly as possible.”
The 19-year-old has never been far from controversy, though. Following the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this month Mercedes considered, then opted not to file a complaint over his defensive moves against Lewis Hamilton in a braking zone. Verstappen finished second and Hamilton’s third-place finish further dented his title hopes.
By the time drivers got to Austin for the US Grand Prix, several used their Friday meeting to complain about their precocious rival. Having heard similar comments several times this season, Formula 1 officials issued a rule clarification: blocking during braking would be deemed illegal and punished. The media immediately called it the “Verstappen Rule.”
Conflicts have also flared in the Red Bull garage. After an early warning during the US race to save his tyres, Verstappen barked over his car radio that he’s “not here to finish fourth!” A few laps later, he mistakenly went into a pit stop without a team order. He was soon out of the race with a gearbox problem.
But Verstappen’s critics have done most of their shouting at him from the rear. He claimed his first career win in Spain, finished second in Malaysia and Japan and has five podium finishes in the last ten races. A win on Sunday in Mexico would come on his 20th birthday. His critics have done little damage to his confidence or skills behind the wheel.
“No,” Verstappen said. “I am a grown-up boy.”