Angelique Kerber's top ranking under threat after Hong Kong defeat
ByPA Sport
Published 15/10/2016 at 09:50 GMT
Angelique Kerber's goal to end the year as world number one has come under threat after the German crashed out of the Prudential Hong Kong Open.
Angelique Kerber
Image credit: AFP
Kerber slipped to a 6-3 6-1 loss to Daria Gavrilova in the quarter-finals, leaving her place at the summit of the women's rankings in doubt.
"I know how she is playing, but I was not playing my best tennis and my serve wasn't working well and I can just say that I was not at my best, that's for sure," said Kerber.
"It's a long season and we've been playing for 10 months. I think I need a few days off because I am tired. I was not serving at my best, I made a lot of double faults which is not normal for my game."
Australia's world number 38 Gavrilova was delighted to register her first career win over Kerber.
"I've played Angie six times, now I've finally won so it's really exciting," said Gavrilova.
"I was prepared for a battle. I think Angie has had a long season. I didn't expect to win that easily, but I was ready to turn it around and get a win against her."
Gavrilova will now meet Kristina Mladenovic in the semi-finals,after the Frenchwoman saw off Bethanie Mattek-Sands 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/3).
Caroline Wozniacki dispatched Qiang Wang 6-3 7-5 to book a last-four showdown with Jelena Jankovic, who beat Alize Cornet 3-6 6-4 6-2.
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Angelique Kerber of Germany plays Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark on day eleven of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Image credit: Reuters
Svetlana Kuznetsova edged past Naomi Osaka 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7/3) at the Tianjin Open in China.
The Russian was made to work for her victory and the right to face Alison Riske in the semi-finals, after the American beat Xinyun Han 6-3 6-3.
Danka Kovinic beat fifth seed Monica Puig 6-4 6-3 to book a semi-final against Peng Shuai, who received a bye thanks to Agnieska Radwanska's withdrawal.
Madison Keys will meet Carla Suarez Navarro in the Generali Ladies Linz semi-finals.
American Keys beat qualifier Oceane Dodin 6-3 6-3, while Navarro saw off Denisa Allertova 6-4 4-6 6-2.
Top seed Garbine Muguruza was forced to retire due to injury towards the end of her quarter-final against Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic at the Generali Ladies Linz.
Muguruza and Golubic were tied 5-7 6-3 4-4 when she fell and appeared to twist her ankle, sending her opponent through to face American Madison Keys in the last four.
One bonus for the Spaniard was confirmation that she has done enough to qualify for the season-ending WTA Tour finals which begin in Singapore in 10 days' time.
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Garbiñe Muguruza celebra un punto frente a Niculescu
Image credit: AFP
Third seed Keys, who needed a wild card to enter the main draw, needed just 56 minutes to see off French qualifier Oceane Dodin 6-3 6-3.
Second seed Dominika Cibulkova beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6 (7/3) 6-4, and will face Carlos Suarez-Navarro, who was a 6-4 4-6 6-2 winner over Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic.
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