Angelique Kerber eases past Petra Kvitova to reach US Open last eight
Monday 5 September 2016 07:52, UK
Angelique Kerber beat two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in straight sets to reach the US Open quarter-finals for the first time since 2011.
The German second seed won 6-3 7-5 to set up a meeting with last year's runner-up Roberta Vinci and ensure Serena Williams must reach the final to have a chance of retaining the world No 1 spot.
Williams is looking to break Steffi Graf's record of 186 weeks as the top ranked player and if Kerber reaches the final, Serena must win the title to stay top of the pile.
"When I was a kid, of course I was dreaming of winning Slams and being one day No. 1, and now it can happen," said Kerber.
"But I'm trying to not put pressure on myself, because I know I have to win a few more matches to reach the No. 1.
"When it happens it will be an amazing feeling, because that was also one of my dreams when I was a kid."
The left-hander made her first major semi-final at Flushing Meadows five years ago, but made her grand slam breakthrough earlier this year when she beat Serena for the Australian Open title.
Kvitova didn't make it past the third round at the first three majors of the year, but is coming off an Olympic bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro, where Kerber won the silver.
But she made 43 unforced errors and served seven doubles-faults, the last coming on match point to seal Kerber's progress.
