WTA Rome: Angelique Kerber celebrates opening victory - now against Simona Halep
Angelique Kerber moved into the second round at the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Rome with a nerve-racking performance against Alizé Cornet.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 11, 2021, 09:43 pm
Kerber and Cornet were able to start their match much later than planned, the rain had thrown the program in the Foro Italico upside down. Under the floodlights on the Campo Centrale, the German number one turned out to be the stronger-nerved player: Kerber fended off the first eleven (!) Break chances of her opponent, Cornet acknowledged her first game win on serve Kerber to 2: 4 in the second set easier blowing.
Until then, everything had looked like a smooth affair for Kerber, at least in terms of the result: The three-time major winner led 6-2 and 4-0 - and a few minutes later even had to fend off two chances to equalize 4: 4 from Cornet. However, the Frenchman managed to make it 5: 5.
After all: Kerber hit back immediately, took the lead 6: 5 with the next break. And this time it worked with serving. Kerber won 6: 2 and 7: 5 and meets in round two against Simona Halep, who had a bye at the start.
Bencic and Mertens lose
In the games that were played to the end before the rain break, there were two minor surprises: Kristina Mladenovic won against Belinda Bencic in two sets, Veronika Kudermetova, who was already the winner in Charleston this year, beat Elise Mertens in three rounds. The new edition of the US Open final of 2017 decided Madison Keys against Sloane Stephens for themselves.
Here the single tableau in Rome
rommap