Angelique Kerber reaches final of the Family Circle Cup
Sunday 12 April 2015 13:35, UK
Angelique Kerber is through to the final of the Family Circle Cup after beating defending champion Andrea Petkovic in straight sets.
Kerber, the fifth seed, will now face Madison Keys after beating fellow German Petkovic 6-4 6-4 in South Carolina.
World No 11 Petkovic went into the semi-final having won her previous 11 matches in Charleston, and the last three clashes with Kerber.
But that counted for little once the action began with 16th-ranked Kerber breaking in the second game and taking the first set 6-4.
The left-hander built a 5-1 lead in the second set and although Petkovic won the next three games, Kerber kept her cool, serving out to love to secure victory.
Sunday's final will be Kerber's first on the WTA Tour since her loss to Serena Williams at Stanford last year.
Keys ended the hopes of Czech Lucie Hradecka, who had enjoyed impressive wins over number eight seed Caroline Garcia and fourth-seeded Italian Sara Errani in the previous rounds.
The 20-year-old American's serve was strong and she saved the only break point she faced, winning 6-1 6-4 in 67 minutes.
"It is always great when you can get off to a good start and I just kept going with it," said Keys.
She is expected to rise to a career high world No 17 in next week's rankings and even higher if she can pull off a surprise against Kerber.
The pair met in Eastbourne last year in Keys' only other appearance in a WTA final, which she won.
