Angelique Kerber and Victoria Azarenka set for Monterrey semi-final showdown

Three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber brushed aside Kirsten Flipkens in the quarter-final of the Abierto GNP Seguros to set up a clash against Victoria Azarenka.
The top-seeded Kerber produced a solid service display, dropping just eight points in her nine service games as she beat Flipkens 6-2, 6-4.
.@AngeliqueKerber knocks out Flipkens, 6-2, 6-4!
Advances to the @Abierto_GNP semifinals! pic.twitter.com/lRkAaLl5Qv
— WTA (@WTA) April 6, 2019
“It’s always tough to play against her. She’s a really tricky opponent with a lot of experience,” Kerber, who improved her record against the Belgian to 4-0, said.
“We know each other very well. I was just trying to play my game and it’s great to be in the semi-finals here again.”
Azarenka is up next after the former world No 1 took out four-time Monterrey champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with an emphatic 6-0, 6-4 victory.
.@vika7 takes out 4-time @Abierto_GNP champion Pavlyuchenkova, 6-0, 6-4!
Moves into semifinals in her Monterrey debut! pic.twitter.com/bPiR5n7OxS
— WTA (@WTA) April 6, 2019
“It was a great match and I’m very happy with the level of tennis that I showed today,” Azarenka said.
“Playing Anastasia here, she’s done such an amazing job, so I knew I had to come out playing my best tennis. Today I really stepped it up a level.”
Defending champion Garbine Muguruza will take on Magdalena Rybarikova in the other semi-final after the two-time Grand Slam winner beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) while Rybarikova was a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Sachia Vickery.
“Being calm, having good tactics and being competitive [was the key today],” Muguruza said.
“It’s a great position to come here defending the title. It’s a good feeling, pressure at the same time, but I’m in the semi-finals, so it’s going well.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
T365 Recall: When Serena Williams cemented her greatness at the 2015 Miami Open
-
-
Storylines from the 2019 tennis season so far: Featuring Roger Federer, Bianca Andreescu and more
-
Comment: Naomi Osaka is clearly struggling, but she’s certainly no flash in the pan
-
Five NextGen stars who are poised to dethrone Roger Federer and friends
-
Latest
-
News
Andy Murray out of Open Sud de France after losing to Egor Gerasimov
Britain’s two-time Wimbledon champion, still working his way back to form after undergoing hip surgery two years ago, went down 7-6 (8) 6-1.
-
Australian Open
Boris Becker ‘impressed’ by Nick Kyrgios, insists Australian has talent to ‘win Wimbledon at least once’
Boris Becker doffs his hat to Nick Kyrgios.
-
News
Fit-again Johanna Konta falls at the first hurdle in Adelaide as she loses against Shelby Rogers
The British No 1 has recovered from an abdominal injury.
-
WTA Tour
Ashleigh Barty insists there is ‘extra pressure’ over world No 1 ranking battle with Naomi Osaka
“Extra pressure is non-existent for me,” says Barty.
-
ATP Tour
Jamie Murray explains why Novak Djokovic’s NBA-style bubble idea would be difficult to pull off in tennis
“That’s obviously very difficult,” says Jamie Murray.
-
Grand Slam
Boris Becker hails Novak Djokovic’s ‘tactical masterclass’ and explains how Serb outwitted Daniil Medvedev
Novak Djokovic “messed up” Daniil Medvedev’s rhythm.
-
Wimbledon
Spectators set to return for Wimbledon 2021 as Tim Henman outlines plans
Spectators look set to be in attendance at Wimbledon.
-
News
Andy Murray reveals he could not bring himself to watch the Australian Open
Murray set for first ATP Tour event of 2021.
-
News
Novak Djokovic to prioritise Grand Slams as he closes in on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
The Serbian is two major titles behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic to ‘take some time off to heal’ as he reveals abdominal ‘damage is bigger’
Novak Djokovic confirms injury worsened.