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By Chris Oddo | Wednesday June 28, 2017

The WTA could have a new No.1 by the time Wimbledon rolls around, but for the present Germany’s Angelique Kerber is doing all she can to prevent it.

More: Time Management is Key to Federer's Renaissance

Kerber, the 22nd No.1 in WTA history, is in her 32nd week at the top of the rankings and could hang on to No.1 at the conclusion of this week's Aegon International in Eastbourne in a number of ways. Simona Halep has a chance to ascend to the top spot should she reach the semifinals or better this week, provided Kerber does not reach the quarterfinal. If Kerber reaches either the quarterfinals or semifinals, then Halep would need to reach the final to rise to the top ranking ahead of Wimbledon. If Kerber reaches the final, then Halep would need to beat her to win the title and claim the No.1 ranking.


More important, there are matches to play. Kerber, who entered Eastbourne on a three-match losing streak and without a win since Madrid in early May, battled from a set down to defeat Kristyna Pliskova, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. After dropping the opener Kerber stormed back to take a lopsided second set behind 12 of 14 first-serve points won. She converted both her break points in the middle set, but encountered a much tougher Pliskova in the decider.

The Czech came two points from winning but Kerber was able to hold for 5-all in set three and then sweep the final two games to claim the victory.

Halep also fell behind by a set in her second-round match, but rallied to take out China’s Duan Ying-Ying, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, in a contest that began on Tuesday but was halted due to rain.

In other action on a busy Wednesday at Devonshire Park, No.11-seeded Garbine Muguruza was pummeled by Barbora Strycova, 6-1, 6-0. The Spaniard dropped more than half of her first serve points and failed to save a single break point of the five she faced in the 61-minute shellacking.

Also progressing was No.5-seeded Johanna Konta set up a third-round encounter with Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko by defeating Sorana Cirstea, 6-2, 6-2. No.9-seeded Kristina Mladenovic defeated Zhang Shuai to set up a third-round tilt with No.7-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, while No.6-seeded Caroline Wozniacki defeated Naomi Osaka 6-2, 7-6(5) to set up a third-round match with Elena Vesnina,

Photo: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty

 

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