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(5)Petra Kvitova v (8)Angelique Kerber (Head-to-head: They are tied at 2-2)
Angelique Kerber
Far removed from the White Group’s complications, this is a winner-take-all situation in the Red Group. As Agnieszka Radwanska has already been eliminated, either one of the two lefties will give company to Serena as the No. 2 player.
Both of the world’s two best lefties love performing on the indoor hardcourts with Kvitova having notched up 66 victories and Kerber secured all three of her title wins in indoor hardcourts. They are even tied in their head-to-head.
If the Czech managed to impress in her opening match in Istanbul, the German gratified her fans with one of her best performances of the year on Thursday against a slumping Radwanska. Kerber was simply scintillating; blasting 31 winners and ripping her down-the-line forehands at will she sent the Pole spinning out of the tournament. She even had an immaculate serving day having lost just 10 points on her serve.
Kerber needed to come up with such an impeccable display after being routed earlier by Serena. After such a thundering performance, her face-off with Kvitova is surely shaping up to be something spectacular. The Czech herself lighted up the Sinan Erdem Dome on Tuesday with her pinpoint accuracy on serves and her inside-out forehands. She moved well and even volleyed smartly – Kvitova very much oozed the belief and courage that had been missing for the better part of the year. Add to that, Kvitova is 7-1 against lefties this year which includes a tough three-setter triumph over her very opponent.
Prediction: Kvitova wins in three sets.
