Angelique Kerber matches fellow former world No 1 with rare Olympic feat

Angelique Kerber celebrates a big point
Angelique Kerber has opened up on her life post-retirement.

Angelique Kerber’s ‘last dance’ is not over yet.

The German, who is playing in the final tournament of her career at the Olympic Games, has rolled back the years with some vintage displays in Paris.

Three-time major winner Kerber started her campaign with an epic win in a blockbuster clash versus Naomi Osaka, beating her fellow former world No 1 in straight sets.

That was followed by a battling win over Jaqueline Cristian on Monday, and then an impressive 6-4, 6-3 win over 16th seed Leylah Fernandez on Tuesday afternoon.

Three consecutive victories have powered the 36-year-old into the quarter-final, where she will be the underdog against sixth seed Zheng Qinwen.

Whatever happens, Kerber has already made history with this run.

Three Olympics, three quarter-finals

This is Kerber’s third Olympic Games, and she has made at least the last eight on all three occasions.

That makes her only the second woman to reach three Olympic quarter-finals since the sport returned to the Games in 1988, with Arantxa Sanchez Vicario being the first.

Kerber made her Olympic debut at London 2012 over a decade ago, beating Petra Cetkovska, Timea Babos, and Venus Williams to reach the last eight – where she was defeated by Victoria Azarenka.

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However, she is probably best remembered in Olympic terms for claiming a silver medal at Rio 2016.

She defeated Mariana Duque Marino and Eugenie Bouchard in her first two matches, before victories over Sam Stosur and Johanna Konta powered her into the semi-final.

There, she overcame American star Madison Keys to reach the gold medal match, though she was beaten by Monica Puig in that final.

Kerber did not compete at the delayed Tokyo Games, but her third Olympic appearance in the French capital could not have gone any better so far.

Sanchez Vicario’s record

A true legend of the sport, former world No 1 and four-time major winner Sanchez Vicario reached three straight Olympic quarter-finals – a showcase of her incredible longevity.

The Spaniard was beaten in round one in her Olympic debut at Seoul 1988, but starred at her home Games in Barcelona four years later.

Second seed in the draw, Sanchez Vicario stormed to the last eight where she downed compatriot Conchita Martinez – though was forced to settle for bronze after a semi-final loss to Jennifer Capriati.

However, she went one better in Atlanta, beating Kimiko Date and Jana Novotna in epic quarter and semi-final clashes to reach the gold medal match – taking home silver after a loss to Lindsay Davenport.

Sanchez Vicario’s third and final Olympic singles quarter-final came in Sydney, where she was beaten by Venus Williams.

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