Kerber brushes aside Keys to make semis
Any doubts that former world No 1 Angelique Kerber deserves her spot right now among the elite in the women’s game were erased after the German destroyed Madison Keys in the Australian Open quarterfinals.
Needing just 51 minutes in the opening match of day 10 on Rod Laver Arena, the German monstered Keys off the court, winning 6-1 6-2.
It was as clinical a performance at the finals stage of a major as you’re ever likely to see. Even after Kerber broke Keys in the first game and then saved a break point on serve, the two-time major winner raced through the opener in just 22 minutes.
Kerber, surely, would have jumped into outright favouritism after this victory. The stats were damning for the American and glowing for Kerber. Both players managed 13 winners but 25 unforced errors came from the racket of Keys, while Kerber committed just seven. It told the story of the match as the nervy American slipped on the big stage, Wednesday’s performance an echo of her 6-3, 6-0 loss to compatriot Sloane Stephens in the US Open final just four months ago.
Asked about how she had planned for her opponent, the 2016 Australian Open champion said she was entirely focused on her own performance.
‘‘No, I was actually just playing my game. Not thinking about errors and winners. Staying in the moment,’’ Kerber said on-court.
‘‘Every game was close in the second set.’’