By Chris Oddo | Friday August 12, 2016
Angelique Kerber saved all ten break points she faced to defeat Madison Keys and reach the Gold medal match in Rio.
Photo Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Angelique Kerber’s sensational 2016 continues. First an Australian Open title—her first major crown—then a Wimbledon final. Now, she’s reached the Olympic Gold medal match in Rio and become the first German woman to medal at the Games since Steffi Graf in 1992.
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Kerber battled past American Madison Keys in a nip-and-tuck affair that saw the German save all ten break points she faced in improving to 5-1 against the rising 21-year-old.
Keys hit 34 winners to just 10 for Kerber in the match, but the world No.2 drew upon her wealth of experience to keep Keys at bay in the crucial moments.
She also used her magnificent defense to force Keys to go for more than she probably should have. The American committed 41 unforced errors while Kerber rarely missed, turning in just eight unforced.
In the second set Keys battled hard, and even saved four match points, battling back from 0-40 down to level at 5-all.
But Kerber, undeterred charged through to win the final two game and close the match in one hour and 29 minutes.
The German will square off with Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig in the Gold medal match, while Keys will meet Petra Kvitova for Bronze.