By Chris Oddo | Wednesday October 7, 2015
Angelique Kerber knocked Caroline Wozniacki out of Singapore contention with a straght-sets win on Wednesday in Beijing.
Photo Source: Chris Hyde/Getty
Angelique Kerber eased past Caroline Wozniacki at the China Open to bolster her Singapore bid, while Garbine Muguruza efficiently took down Irina Falconi to close within one win of qualification on Wednesday in Beijing.
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Kerber, who needs to reach the Beijing final to clinch her Singapore slot, improved to 7-5 vs. Wozniacki with a 6-2, 6-3 win, avenging a three-set loss from two weeks ago in Tokyo.
Kerber broke Wozniacki’s serve 7 times on 13 opportunities and won 60 percent of her return points over the course of the 87-minute encounter.
Wozniacki rallied to win three games consecutively in the second set before finally giving way to the German. The loss eliminates Wozniacki from the race. Also falling out of the race on Wednesday were Andrea Petkovic, Madison Keys and Elina Svitolina.
Petkovic fell to Sara Errani, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, while Radwanska advanced when Keys had to pull the plug after one set due to a leg injury.
Kerber will meet Radwanska in the quarterfinals on Friday in Beijing. The pair have met ten times previously with each player notching five wins.
Muguruza appeared to be in good health in defeating Falconi. She saved four of five break points, including the only one she faced in the second set to trample the American in 80 minutes.
Muguruza will face Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the round of 16 tonight in the Beijing with a chance to secure her Singapore spot.
Elina Svitolina was also eliminated as a result of Radwanska’s win. There are still 14 players in contention for the last six spots, but four more could be eliminated in Beijing. Ana Ivanovic and Roberta Vinci need a win to stay alive on Thursday. Ivanovic faces Svetlana Kuznetsova while Vinci faces Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Timea Bacsinszky and Sara Errani will need to win on Friday to stay alive, with the pair facing each other in the quarterfinals. Bacsinszky kept her hopes alive with a three-set victory over Carla Suarez Navarro on Wednesday.