Kerber Moves On, Pliskova Falls on Wimbledon Day Four

July 6, 2017 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Angelique_Kerber (7)

World number one Angelique Kerber advanced to the Wimbledon third round for the fourth straight year on Thursday, defeating Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 7-5, 7-5.

Kerber will play American Shelby Rogers next. Rogers came back to beat Lucie Safarova 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3.

Unfortunately, the biggest story of the day came from Safarova’s doubles partner, American Bethanie Mattek-Sands. She suffered a horrific knee injury during her match against Sorana Cirstea, and required a stretcher to get off the court.

“Yea, her knee was in a very weird position,” said Cirstea, who hopped across the net as soon as it happened to check on Mattek-Sands who was screaming in pain. “I’ve never seen anything like this probably except in the movies.”

Cirstea will play 14th seed Garbine Muguruza, who knocked off Yanina Wickmayer 6-2, 6-4.  

The upset of the day came from Magdalena Rybarikova, who came back from a set down to beat third-seed Karolina Pliskova 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

“It’s obviously an amazing feeling for me, and I’m so happy,” said Rybarikova. “It’s tough to describe. I beat someone who is No. 3 in the world right now…on the Centre Court at Wimbledon. Nothing could be better. I’m very pleased and very happy.”

Rybarikova will take on Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko next. She knocked off Viktorija Golubic 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in her match Thursday.

American Alison Riske upset 12th seeded Kristina Mladenovic, coming back from a set down to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round. She will take on 24th seed Coco Vandeweghe in an all-American matchup. Vandeweghe defeated Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-2 in her match Thursday.

Ninth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska survived a scare against American Christina McHale, fighting back from a set down to advance with a 5-7, 7-6(7), 6-3 victory. She will play 19th seed Timea Bacsinszky next.

Fifth-seed Caroline Wozniacki was the day’s final winner as she cruised past Tsvetana Pironkova 6-4, 6-3. Wozniacki draws Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit in the third round. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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