Former World No.1 Angelique Kerber will lock horns with another former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka for the fourth-round berth at the Miami Open 2021. However, the 33-year-old from Germany foresees it will be one of the other brutal battles in their rivalry.
No.24 seed Kerber advanced into the third round after double bagel sets win over qualifier Renata Zarazua. On the other hand, No.14 seed arrived in the Round of 32 following German Laura Siegemund’s walkover.
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“The Match In New York Which Was So Close”: Angelique Kerber on Facing Azarenka
Three-time and two-time Grand Slam champions have faced each other ten-time since 2012. Despite a walkover at the 2012 Tokyo Open, Azarenka defeated Kerber eight-time so far and led 8-1 in their head-to-head series.
However, when speaking about her next round opponent and their rivalry, Kerber reminisced, “I remember the final in Brisbane. I remember the match in which we played in Australia in 2016. Also, the match in New York which was so close and was a really good match.”
Victoria Azarenka ousted German in straight sets(6-3, 6-1) at the 2016 Brisbane International, while Angelique Kerber stunned Belarusian in the same consecutive sets(6-3, 7-5) within a couple of weeks at the Australian Open.
The 2018 Wimbledon champion continued, “So there are a lot of matches against Vika in the past, so I know It’s another hard battle against her. But this is why I’m here and to try to play good matches against the best, yeah, players.”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to playing and of course playing, yeah, I like how I played today and also like I played the last few days here in Miami,” Kerber confessed.
However, Victoria Azarenka took home the Miami Open title in 2009, 2011, and 2016.