Angelique Kerber joins Monica Puig in the women’s tennis final of the 2016 Olympic Games, with a thrilling victory over Madison Keys.
The second semifinal in Rio was a close battle in which Kerber prevailed, as her opponent converted none of the ten break points, on top of committing 41 unforced errors to Kerber’s 8.
In the first set, Kerber made a decisive break in the seventh game to lead 4-3 and never looked back on her way to 6-3, as Keys missed a substantial number of opportunities, while Kerber performed better on the crucial points. Stats are intriguing here: At the moment of Kerber’s first break in the seventh game, Keys made 14 winners to 18 unforced errors, while Kerber made just one winner and one unforced error.
The second set went with serve all the way to 5-5, including Kerber saving three break points in the ninth game and Keys saving four match points in the tenth game. Actually, the eleventh game was also a hold for Kerber and at 6-5 the German finally converted her sixth match point to win the exciting match 6-3 7-5.
The medal matches are now set, as Germany’s Anglique Kerber will play Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig in the quest for gold, while the bronze medal will be the prize for the winner of the match between American Madison Keys and Czech Petra Kvitova. (photo: Jimmie48)
Angie just could not be broken, though Maddie had several chances. And this is why Kerber should win the gold, although Monica Puig could give her a good fight. Sorry the American gals defeated the Serbians in volleyball, Marija..but they could meet again in the medal rounds. The Serbian men’s basketball team almost upset the Americans in basketball.
Jim, I watched basketball last night. It was a close fight and our team had a slight chance even in the last moment, but it was too hard to achieve and it didn’t happen.