Angelique Kerber up and running as world number one
ByPA Sport
Published 27/09/2016 at 10:31 GMT
Angelique Kerber's reign as world number one got off to a winning start, though she survived a scare as she advanced to the third round of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
Angelique Kerber played her first match as world number one at the Wuhan Open
Image credit: PA Sport
Angelique Kerber's reign as world number one got off to a winning start, though she survived a scare as she advanced to the third round of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
The German dethroned Serena Williams at the summit of the women's game, ending the veteran's 186-week stay, after she won the US Open earlier this month, her second grand slam of the year.
Following a bye in the first round in China, Kerber took to the court for the first time as number one and had a tough afternoon, before eventually making it past Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic 6-7 (7/4) 6-1 6-2.
"It was not easy because the first rounds are always really tough, especially for me," she said. " But I was trying to find my rhythm because I was not playing my best in the first set for sure.
"Then I was starting slowly to find my game to stay in the match and trying to be focussed on every single point. It was not so easy for me."
Kerber will now face 14th seed Petra Kvitova, winner of the inaugural tournament in Wuhan two years ago, in the third round after the Czech breezed past Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-1.
There was also a comfortable workout for fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Ekaterina Makarova 6-4 6-1, while eighth seed Madison Keys made light work of Caroline Garcia in a 6-3 6-4 success.
Svetlana Kuznetsova hammered Madison Brengle 6-0 6-4, Roberta Vinci, the 13th seed, was toppled by Yaroslava Shvedova 7-5 6-2, while Daria Kasatkina was a 6-1 6-1 winner over Louisa Chirico.
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