SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale


By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, May 24, 2016

 
Angelique Kerber

Kiki Bertens held her nerve in the final game to pull off a three set upset win over No. 3 seed Angelique Kerber at Roland Garros.

Photo Credit: Getty Images


There will be no calendar year Grand Slam for Germany’s Angelique Kerber. The recent Australian Open winner finds herself exiting Roland Garros after the first round.

Instead, it’s unseeded Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands who is moving on after finally earning her first ever top five win.

Roland Garros: What to Watch on Day Three

“It was a good week for me last week and good for me here too,” said an excited Bertens just after the win.

The first round encounter had potential upset written all over it given the recent history between Kerber and Bertens. Earlier in Miami, Bertens enjoyed a sizable lead over Kerber before the Dutchwoman succumbed to a stomach illness in their third round match.

Last week, Bertens claimed the Nurnberg singles title. Kerber was scheduled to play at that event before she pulled out with a shoulder issue.

Bertens took control in the first set thanks to hitting 10 winners to just two from the German. Bertens, who didn’t face a break point all set soon closed it out 6-2.

However Kerber seemed poised to turn the match around as they entered the second set. Kerber jumped out to a 4-2 lead. With a volley winner on set point a few games later, Kerber leveled up the match 6-3.

The final set proved unpredictable right down to the last game.

Bertens earned the first service break. Bertens pulled Kerber into the net with a drop shot before drilling a passing shot past the German to take the game. Soon, Bertens led 3-0.

Kerber then asked to see the trainer to look at her shoulder. The German left the court briefly to have her shoulder taped causing an extended delay.

When play resumed, Bertens barely won two points. At 3-1, Kerber found herself holding two break points. Bertens saved the first, but Kerber missed her chance on the second when she netted a forehand instead of placing it in the open court. Bertens eventually held serve for 4-1.

With strong serving, Bertens later extended her advantage for 5-2. Kerber held serve and forced Bertens to serve for it at 5-3.

The last game tested Bertens nerve as she soon found herself with two match points at 40-15. But one great lunging save from Kerber backed up by an errant Bertens shot on the next point put things at deuce. Kerber held another break point but missed her chance when she reached a Bertens drop shot but then pushed her shot wide.

Bertens soon held a third match. After a long rally, Kerber from deep behind the baseline attempted a drop shot. But that shot failed to go over. With that, Bertens celebrated the 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory.



It’s the first top five win ever for Bertens who admitted to nerves in the last game.

“I was really nervous. Already I had the two match points but yeah I am happy to make it there.”

Kerber afterwards gave her thoughts on the match.


An Australian Open women’s champion losing in the first round of Roland Garros is not without precedence.

.

 

Latest News