After two warm-up sets, we were in for an absolute thriller in the decider, as Angelique Kerber rallied from 5-3 down, when Caroline Wozniacki was serving for the title, won four straight games and engraved her name in the list of the Premier-level Porsche Tennis Grand Prix champions, staying undefeated this claycourt season and extending her winning streak to 11 matches, which now includes a Fed Cup match victory and two big titles (Charleston and Stuttgart).
The 14th-ranked Kerber did not come from behind only in the third set, she had given away the opening set to Wozniacki, who won it by virtue of a sole break in the fourth game, and then managed to level to 1-1 in sets by dominating 6-1 in the second. Throughout the decider, it was Wozniacki who had the upper hand, but that all changed when Kerber’s fighting spirit got on fire in the ninth game of the third set and there was not much Wozniacki could do to stop it. The Dane did save three match points and she definitely didn’t give away the match, but her fate was sealed on the fourth match point. Final score: 3-6 6-1 7-5.
What a well-deserved trophy for Kerber! Not only did she clinch the final in such a dramatic fashion, but her Stuttgart title will also stay remembered by the fact that she ousted three-time defending Stuttgart champion, top seed and fellow Porsche ambassador Maria Sharapova in the second round.
Despite the loss, this was an awesome event for Wozniacki, as prior to Stuttgart, her highest ranked victim of 2015 had been world No.14 Flavia Pennetta, while this week alone the Dane recorded three bigger victories in terms of ranking: over world No.13 Lucie Safarova, No.10 Carla Suarez Navarro and No.3 Simona Halep.
Kerber’s winning outfit: the navy Adidas Spring All Premium Strappy Tank and the matching skort with all-around pleats. Shoes: Adidas Adizero CC Tempaia III CLAY.
Congrats to Angie, she sure has been playing well lately. And she certainly had the “home court” advantage with the help of the German crowd against Caro. She also got a “home court” bounce when that final point skidded off the service line so low that the Woz could not possibly retrieve it!
Jim, Kerber made a spectacular comeback. I mean, Caro was not dominant in the third set, she simply pulled off a decisive lead, but it’s amazing how Kerber didn’t let herself be down and broke Caro while she was serving for the match and didn’t let Caro win a single game from then on.
Home court advantage for “Clayber” (as what she is called now considering her unbeaten record on clay this year) was one of the keys for her success. It was a historic win. I was hoping Woz would snatch the title but Kerber fought all the way and gave her all. It was a very emotional win for her. Maybe a return in Top 10? Let’s find out and see in the coming months…
We had so many great matches this season already and It’s only start of the clay court season. It is especially so good seeing all these girls working so hard to improve their clay court skills the slides, the chip shots I can’t wait for Madrid to start. If kerber can keep this determination and fire she showed in Stuttgart, I believe her first major is not so far away 🙂