Kerber shows her class... but few remain to see it

CENTRE COURT is usually the undisputed main show in Wimbledon town. It is the place everybody wants to be and be seen.

For Angelique Kerber’s match against Naomi Osaka, however, it felt a little like an afterthought.

But a contest between a two-time Grand Slam champion and one of the sport’s most exciting young talents is a bone fide main stage offering.

With the All England Club deciding to stop spectators on Centre Court from streaming England’s World Cup game on their phones, many took the chance to go and watch it around the grounds instead — and there were rows of empty seats for most of the match, which Kerber won 6-2, 6-4.

She also won 80 per cent of first-serve points while hitting 23 winners and making only five unforced errors.

Kerber has been consistently good at Wimbledon since 2012 — making the final in 2016 — and is now the secondhighest seed left in the women’s draw.

‘You can see how close it is, you have to be ready for every round,’ said Kerber. ‘It was a tough match, because I know how she’s playing.

‘It was important to be aggressive, have the tension on my side of the court.’

Osaka did not cut herself any slack after her first time in the big stadium. ‘It went pretty bad,’ she said. ‘I could have enjoyed it more, being on Centre Court. That was the part I regret the most.’