Unbelievable - Kerber in US Open semis
Date published :
09 Sep 2011 - 02:00:19
Angelique Kerber exceeded her wildest US Open dreams on Thursday, shutting down her nerves to beat experienced Italian Flavia Pennetta and book a semi-final berth.
The 92nd-ranked German had already gone further than she'd ever been in a Grand Slam by reaching the quarter-finals.
"It's unbelievable," said the 23-year-old, who dropped to her knees and pressed her hands to her face as Pennetta's errant shot sealed her 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory.
"I woke up last night and I was thinking is it a dream or is it real? The quarters was for me the best highlight of my career and now I'm in the semis."
Kerber admitted that the tension of the situation out on court 17 -- the smallest of the show courts at Flushing Meadows -- could have cost her the match.
She led 4-2 in the second set, but lost six games before she steadied herself and closed out the match.
"I started to think too much," she said. "I was thinking I'm now up 4-2, just two games more I can win this match and go to the semis, and I think that was the reason why it's going down."
Kerber, who said she arrived in New York expecting to reach the second, perhaps third round, said she had benefitted from training with compatriot Andrea Petkovic, who was eliminated by world number one Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday.
They are part of a wave of young German women who are making their presence felt on tour. Her semi-final appearance follows that of Sabine Lisicki at Wimbledon in July.
"They were playing very good the last month, and I know that I can do this also because we know each other for a long time," she said of how her compatriots' success had buoyed her. "It helps me for sure."
Kerber defeated 12th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the second round, but hadn't faced another seeded player until No. 26 Pennetta.
In their quarter, Pennetta had ousted third-seeded Maria Sharapova in the third round, while fifth-seeded Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova lost in the first round.
Kerber had given a sign of things to come by reaching the semi-finals in Dallas in the week before the US Open. She's now slated to rise into the top 35 in the world.
Semi-final opponent Sam Stosur of Australia admitted she didn't know much about the German.
"I don't know much about Kerber except she's a lefty," Stosur said. "I've never played or practiced with her or anything like that."
The Australian, who ousted second-seeded Vera Zvonareva, may be happy she's not up againt Pennetta, who has beaten her all four times they played.
"It's the semis of a Slam, and we all want to get through to that final," Stosur said. "No matter who I play, I'll have to play well."
