WHAT HAPPENED: No. 17 seed Angelique Kerber fought off a tough test from fellow German Anna-Lena Friedsam on Wednesday, booking a ticket to the third round with a 6-3, 7-6 win in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Though her opponent was ranked World No. 109, Kerber was challenged by a strong offensive game from Friedsam, especially when she raised her level of play in the second set and struck 20 winners to Kerber’s 11.
“It was really a tricky match, especially when I play against another German,” Kerber said. “She’s so good and she was going for the ball, so I was trying to take my chances and be aggressive. I was fighting until the end.”
The 2016 US Open champion wasted little time taking the lead in the first set, saving three break points in the third game to go up 3-0. Friedsam fought well to stay in the game, but the more she drew Kerber into longer rallies, the more Kerber dominated with the same shot-making prowess that earned her three Grand Slam titles.
Though both players were evenly matched across the stats board, it was a handful of untimely errors off of Friedsam’s racquet that made the difference in the opening set. A blistering forehand winner from the former No. 1 ended the 35-minute first set, 6-3.
The second set opened with a trade of breaks, one of which was earned with a sharp-angled backhand slice from Kerber that drew a smile of disbelief from her coach. From then on, both women raised the quality of their service games, posting 80% or better on first-serve percentage in the second set.
When the set reached a tiebreak, it was an all-out battle that had everything: drop shots, angles, grit, determination and a 19-shot rally. Eventually, Kerber prevailed 8-6 on two Friedsam errors to take the match and advance.
WHAT IT MEANS: Kerber is contesting her 50th Grand Slam appearance. Since her title run here four years ago, she has not made it past the third round in Flushing Meadows. Standing in her way of that feat in Friday’s third-round match will be either No. 13 seed Alison Riske or Ann Li.
Friedsam, whose biggest success this season was a run to the final in Lyon, leaves Flushing Meadows with a career milestone of advancing past the first round of a major for the first time.
MATCH POINT: After temporarily parting ways, Kerber recently reunited with coach Torben Beltz, who was with her during her successful 2016 season when she won the Australian Open, the US Open, and the Olympic silver medal. Could it be the change she needs to be back in the conversation for another major title?
