Angelique Kerber in crushing form in her Dubai opener

Angelique Kerber lost just three games as she overwhelmed Barbora Strykova in her Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships opening match.
The two-time Grand Slam winner required just 59 minutes to claim a 6-2, 6-1 victory and set up a second-round encounter against former Dubai champion Sara Errani, who beat Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-3.
“I think I played a good match. I played a solid match. It’s always tough to play against her. You never know what’ll happen. She’s always a fighter, but I’m happy to won the match in two sets,” Kerber told WTATennis.com.
Fifth seed Caroline Garcia is also through after she beat Lucie Safarova 6-3, 7-5, and she will face Ekaterina Makarova in the second round after the Russian beat Anastasja Sevastova 3-6, 7-6 (11-9), 6-3.
“I am definitely very happy with the win, and relieved to get through in two sets because I was up and had a bad game,” Garcia said.
“She kept believing and fighting, so I am happy to be in the second round because she is always a tough player, coming back from injury.”
However, Australian Open semi-finalist Elise Mertens crashed out as she went down 6-3, 6-3 against Cici Bellis while Anett Kontaveit beat former US Open champion Sam Stosur 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Latest
-
French Open
Former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova out of Roland Garros after undergoing ‘small surgery’
Marketa Vondrousova withdraws from French Open.
-
Wimbledon
Explainer – Why Wimbledon’s Russian and Belarusian ban has caused a crisis at the heart of tennis
The decision from Wimbledon and the LTA to ban Russian and Belarusian players has divided opinion.
-
Tennis News
Stefanos Tsitsipas praises ‘great champion’ Novak Djokovic: ‘He’s like a Formula 1 car’
Stefanos Tsitsipas lavish in his praise of Novak Djokovic.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz on his big goal: ‘I am clear about my dream, which is to be No 1 in the world’
Carlos Alcaraz dreams of becoming world No 1 and he’s not shy of saying it in public.
-
Tennis News
Emma Raducanu on rotating coaches: ‘People might look at me like I’m crazy but I trust my decision-making’
Emma Raducanu trusting her own process.
-
WTA Tour
WTA calendar update: Guadalajara to host WTA 1000 event as China remains absent from schedule
Changes to the 2022 WTA calendar.
-
French Open
Iga Swiatek hailed as ‘the boss’ as French Open chief Amelie Mauresmo praises ‘new era’ in women’s tennis
Iga Swiatek steering women’s tennis into a new era.
-
French Open
French Open news: Home hopes dented with Gael Monfils withdrawal
French No 1 Gael Monfils has withdrawn from the Lyon Open and Roland Garros.
-
News
ATP finally make a decision on Queen’s and Eastbourne – but Wimbledon are still waiting
Russian and Belarusian players were last month banned from competing at Wimbledon.
-
ATP Tour
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s Lyon farewell ends in heartbreaking first round loss
It ends early for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Lyon.