Tennis: Zhang Shuai stuns Angelique Kerber to set up quarterfinals against Naomi Osaka at China Open
Thu Oct 04, 2018 11:05:am Sports
4.9K By Obiaks Blog
Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber suffered a shock exit to world No 45 Zhang Shuai at the China Open on Thursday.
China's Zhang produced a 6-1 2-6 6-0 win over the German world No 3, much to the delight of the home crowd, over three thrilling sets to set up a quarter-final with US Open champion Naomi Osaka on Friday.
Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam champion, said that she had been troubled by a knee injury in the see-saw battle but refused to blame that for the defeat.
"I was not feeling the best at the beginning of the match, but then I was playing better and better," the 30-year-old said.
"At the end she played a good third set - she took her chances and played a really solid match."
World No 6 Osaka, meanwhile, maintained her strong form since her maiden Grand Slam title by crushing Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-2.
The Japanese 20-year-old made a slow start - saving a break point and enduring five deuces in the eight-minute first game - but she broke Goerges' serve in the next game and raced to 5-0.
Osaka won four consecutive points on Goerges' serve to open the second set and rolled on to a straight-sets victory.
Elsewhere, Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic defeated 26-year-old Kiki Bertens 6-4 6-3.
That result had the knock-on effect of ensuring Petra Kvitova a place at the eight-woman WTA Finals as she can no longer finish outside of the top eight in the race to Singapore.
SKYSPORTS
China's Zhang produced a 6-1 2-6 6-0 win over the German world No 3, much to the delight of the home crowd, over three thrilling sets to set up a quarter-final with US Open champion Naomi Osaka on Friday.
Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam champion, said that she had been troubled by a knee injury in the see-saw battle but refused to blame that for the defeat.
"I was not feeling the best at the beginning of the match, but then I was playing better and better," the 30-year-old said.
"At the end she played a good third set - she took her chances and played a really solid match."
World No 6 Osaka, meanwhile, maintained her strong form since her maiden Grand Slam title by crushing Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-2.
The Japanese 20-year-old made a slow start - saving a break point and enduring five deuces in the eight-minute first game - but she broke Goerges' serve in the next game and raced to 5-0.
Osaka won four consecutive points on Goerges' serve to open the second set and rolled on to a straight-sets victory.
Elsewhere, Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic defeated 26-year-old Kiki Bertens 6-4 6-3.
That result had the knock-on effect of ensuring Petra Kvitova a place at the eight-woman WTA Finals as she can no longer finish outside of the top eight in the race to Singapore.
SKYSPORTS
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