MELBOURNE: Former champion Angelique Kerber is the player to beat as the Australian Open reaches the semifinals on Thursday, while second seed Caroline Wozniacki continues her long quest for a first major. Romanian top seed Simona Halep, also in search of a first Grand Slam title, is the player tasked with stopping the German from reaching a second Australian Open final after winning in 2016. Wozniacki won her only previous meeting with Mertens on clay last July in three sets. Kerber, seeded 21 after a form slump in 2017, appears back to the dominant best that brought her two Grand Slam titles in 2016. “I’m proud how I got through all the last weeks and being in the semis again in a Grand Slam.

Source: Manila Times January 24, 2018 14:26 UTC