Australian Open 2016: Who is Johanna Konta's semi-final opponent Angelique Kerber?
Wednesday 27 January 2016 15:20, UK
Johanna Konta will contest her first Grand Slam semi-final when she tackles Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open on Thursday.
The British number one saw off Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai, but who is the German standing in Konta's way as she bids to become the first British woman since 1977 to make a Grand Slam final?
We take a look...
Angelique Kerber
Age: 28
Nationality: German
Height: 5ft 8in
Plays: Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
World ranking: 6
Grand Slam titles: 0
WTA titles: 7
Run to the semi-final
Kerber was pushed all the way in her first-round match at this year's Australian Open, coming from a set down to beat Japan's Misaki Doi 6-7 7-6 6-3.
An impressive run then saw the German drop just 14 games as she dismissed Alexandra Dulgheru, Madison Brengle and compatriot Annika Beck in straight sets in the next three rounds.
She was equally impressive in the way she dispatched one of the favourites for the tournament in Victoria Azarenka 6-3 7-5 in her first ever Australian Open quarter-final.
Career history
Kerber is in uncharted territory in Melbourne but, unlike Konta, she does have previous experience in Grand Slam semi-finals. Thursday's clash will be her third trip to the last-four of a major having previously done so at the US Open and Wimbledon.
She first managed it at Flushing Meadows in 2011, when she came unstuck in three sets against eventual winner Sam Stosur, before being beaten by Agnieszka Radwanska at the all England Club the following year.
Since then she has struggled slightly at the majors, with only one quarter-final appearance coming between 2013-15.
Last year, she failed to even make it past the first round in Australia, losing in three sets to Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu.
Despite her underwhelming Grand Slam record in 2015, she did win an impressive four WTA titles last year, behind only Serena Williams' tally of five (albeit three of those were Grand Slams) to take her career haul to 11.
That record helped her end 2015 in the world's top 10 for the fourth year in succession.
Influences
Kerber revealed after her victory over Azarenka that fellow German Steffi Graf, who won 22 Grand Slam titles in her career, is her tennis hero, and has also helped to improve her game.
"Steffi is a champion. She taught me to believe in myself. She was and still is my idol," Kerber said of Graf.
"She won everything, she's a great person, as well. I was able to practice with her for a few days just before Indian Wells last year. But she taught me actually that I'm on a good way and to try to believe in myself."
