Bad Homburg Open: Former World No 1 Angelique Kerber to face Petra Kvitova in semi-finals-Sports News , Firstpost

File image of Angelique Kerber. AFP

Berlin: Former world number one Angelique Kerber will play Petra Kvitova on grass at the WTA Bad Homburg tournament in Friday’s semi-finals in their warm-up for Wimbledon.

After rain washed out Thursday’s schedule, Kerber played her quarter-final on Friday morning when she ground out a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 over Amanda Anisimova of the USA.

At the same time, Kvitova, the top seed in Bad Homburg, powered her way into the semi-finals with a 6-3, 7-6 (12/10) win over Argentine fifth-seed Nadia Podoroska in her rain-delayed quarter-final on Friday.

Kerber and Kvitova, the 2014 Wimbledon champion, will play again Friday evening for a place in Saturday’s final ahead of the start of Wimbledon on Monday.

“I am happy that I could turn the match and play again here this evening,” said Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam winner.

“I’m looking forward to the match, I’m using it as preparation for Wimbledon.

“I can’t remember the last time I played twice in one day.”

This will be Kerber’s first semi-final appearance for nearly two years.

In Saturday’s final, Kerber or Kvitova will play Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic after her 6-2, 6-4 semi-final win over Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo on Friday.