Angelique Kerber: if healthy, will win WTA Finals in Singapore
Angelique Kerber enters Singapore as the favorite to win the WTA Finals. Her health, however, is a concern and she must find her pre-October form in order to beat the field.
Angelique Kerber earned the honor of being named the 2016 WTA Player of the Year. The women’s tennis world number 1 is the clear favorite at the Singapore WTA Finals assuming her health is not a concern.
Kerber won two Grand Slam titles this year, one at the Australian Open and another at the US Open. Her number 1 ranking is also safe for 2016 as women’s tennis star Serena Williams had to withdraw from the WTA Finals for the second straight year citing an injury. Williams and her team believe she must focus on her recovery and prepare for the 2017 season. Kerber wished Williams a speedy recovery and said she hopes to see her on tour next year.
The most recent concerns surrounding Kerber’s health were raised at the China Open. The world number 1 did not appear to be one-hundred percent on the court. Kerber did recover and played the following week, although she lost to 37th ranked Daria Gavrilova.
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The career year for Kerber took off when she defeated Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4 in the Australian Open finals to secure her first of 2 majors in 2016. She also managed to reach the finals at Wimbledon, where she was defeated by Williams, and the finals at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio.
Kerber’s health is not the only concern. Her draw at the WTA Finals in Singapore is also intensely competitive. In her group are Simona Halep, Madison Keys, and Dominika Cibulkova. The world number 1 must be on top of her game if she intends to advance through the group.
All 4 women in the Red Group alongside Kerber are having strong years. Cibulkova recently won a title at Linz, the 7th of her career, and hopes to carry that momentum into her first ever WTA Finals. Keys is also making her debut at the WTA Finals this year. The 28-year-old Kerber cannot take any match for granted at Singapore.
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Check back for more updates on Kerber’s performance at the WTA Finals in Singapore, the men’s ATP World Tour Finals, and other tennis news from Lob and Smash.
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