By Erik Gudris | Sunday, June 21, 2015

 

With a spot in the WTA top 10 on the line, Angelique Kerber won the Birmingham title in three close sets over Karolina Pliskova.

Photo Credit: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

With a spot in the WTA top 10 on the line, Germany's Angelique Kerber won the Aegon Classic Birmingham title in three close sets over Karolina Pliskova.

ATP: Federer Wins Record Eighth Title in Halle.

Sunday's final proved too close to call from start to finish. The No. 6 seed Pliskova was not only aiming to break into the top 10 with a win, she was also trying to join fellow Czechs Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova in the women's elite tier.

The No. 4 seed Kerber, who is currently ranked at No. 10, had to win the title in order to stay inside the top 10.

The German took control early in the first set after an extended opening game saw her break Pliskova. With Pliskova misfiring on routine shots, it looked like Kerber would wrap up the set.

That wasn't to be however even when Kerber held 0-40 on Pliskova's serve at 5-3. Pliskova hit potent winners to get back to deuce. Despite Kerber soon holding a fourth set point, Pliskova struck an ace to hold for 5-4.

Kerber faltered trying to serve out the set allowing Pliskova back in at 5-all. Soon enough a tiebreak was required and it was Pliskova with another big serve who finally closed it out 7-6(5).

Kerber, though dropping her serve to open the second set, changed her tactics that provided better results. Choosing to mix up pace and hit more angles, Kerber soon broke back and then took the lead. Pliskova's own level dropped with Kerber winning more of the extended rallies.

Kerber clinched the second set 6-3 after Pliskova hit into the net.

The third set remained unpredictable even when Kerber assumed another early advantage. Pliskova sent what looked like an easy forehand into the net again giving Kerber a 2-1 lead.

Kerber looked poised to finally seal the win when she served for the title up 5-4. Yet the German fell behind 15-40 on her serve. Pliskova, holding another break point, sent up a wobbly lob that Kerber couldn't quite handle. Now both women found themselves level again at 5-all.

Perhaps appropriately, the final set reached a dramatic tiebreak conclusion. Yet it was Kerber who came up with clutch serving when she needed it. At 4-all, Pliskova missed on a down the line backhand shot. Kerber now with the lead pulled off a clever drop shot followed by a winning passing shot.

With a final big serve, Kerber then sealed the tough 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(4) victory.

The stat of the day came from Pliskova who hit 52 winners on the day despite it being a losing effort for the afternoon.

"Karolina is a great player," Kerber said. "She served unbelievably well in the important moments, and she was hitting the balls so close to the lines. I had no chance in the big moments in the first set," Kerber later said to WTA.com. "But I just kept fighting point by point. It's an unbelievable feeling to win today."

Birmingham is now the third Premier level title of the season for Kerber. The German earlier won Charleston and Stuttgart. Kerber is now only the second player this year to win three Premier level or higher titles. Serena Williams has won two majors (Melbourne, Roland Garros) and a Premier Mandatory (Miami).

Kerber will next play Eastbourne before getting ready for Wimbledon where she is a former semifinalist.