WTA Sydney: Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova score wins
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Camila and Angelique played in the semi-final here 12 months ago and the German had to work much harder to prevail today, especially in the opening set where she trailed 3-1 before climbing back to win it in the tie break.
Giorgi made more damage with his first serve but the second cost her the better result, getting broken four times from six chances she offered to Kerber who lost serve twice before scoring three straight breaks to cross the finish line first.
The Italian was the more aggressive player on the court, hitting more than 30 winners but also almost 40 unforced errors, too many against the rival who tamed her shots nicely to finish on a 15-13 ratio. Kerber suffered a break in the fourth game before she broke back at love in the following game after a backhand error from Camila.
The German saved a break point at 3-4 and they both served well in the remaining games to set up a tie break where Angelique moved 5-0 up after a double fault from Giorgi. Angelique closed the set with a service winner after 54 minutes and she had to play from behind in set number two as well after a break from Camila in game three.
Just like in the opener, the Italian stayed ahead only for a few minutes, getting broken in the very next game and fading from the court in the rest of the match after losing serve in games six and eight. . Kvitova won 29 out of 34 points behind the first serve and despite problems on the second serve she suffered just two breaks, dominating in the return games to win more than 50% points behind Sabalenkas serve to convert all five chances and seal the deal in straight sets to reach the last 16.
A former Wimbledon champion needed just 23 minutes to secure the opener, saving a break point at 1-1 before bringing the game home with two winners. Petra broke at love in the following game and she never looked back, moving 5-1 up when Aryna hit a double fault in game six and closing the set with a forehand winner in the following game.
Sabalenka bounced back in set number two, jumping into a 3-1 lead when Kvitova netted a forehand but she squandered the advantage in the very next game after another double fault. Petra fends off a break point with a forehand winner in game six and she gained another break at 3-3 following yet another double fault from the Belarusian.
Aryna stayed in the set thanks to a break in the eighth game and a forehand that Petra sent into the net, creating a set point on the return at 5-4. The Czech repelled it with a backhand winner and that was one of the crucial shots of the match, landing a return winner for a break at 5-5 and securing the win with a good serve in the next game to open the title chase.
The first set offered five straight breaks, three from Barty who closed the set with a hold at love in game nine. This gave Ashleigh a huge boost, breaking in the third game of the second set and saving a break point at 5-2 before completing the triumph with another break in the next game.
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