Angelique Kerber Showing She’ll Struggle to Keep Hold of No. 1 Ranking

Angelique Kerber impressively finished off Simona Halep in group play at the WTA Finals in Singapore, looking like the world No. 1 player who won the Australian and U.S. Opens. She streamlined her long sweeping forehand and moved around the baseline like a gazelle with a 6-4, 6-2 statement win.

So far so good for the determined German superstar who could enhance her position at the top with the year-end championship. She’s matured into a confident champion who is unlikely to falter in 2016 the way she did in Singapore one year ago, when she bowed down before the semifinals with a straight-sets loss to Lucie Safarova.

“Of course I have much more confidence right now because I know how to win very big matches, tight matches,” Kerber said, per WTA Tennis. “I know what to do to go for it and just take the game in my hands. Of course I believe much more in my game and in myself than like 12 months ago, especially after Singapore one year ago.”

Winning Singapore would be the cherry on top of a career renaissance in 2016, a symbolic rise from fragile contender to the queen of tennis; it could also be crucial in her hopes of hanging on to the No. 1 ranking into February.

Style and Substance

All tennis fans should be Kerber fans. There’s everything to love about the way she tracks down each ball with her strong legs and unorthodox reach. Her southpaw forehand often dips and slides across her body like she’s sweep-rowing across an Olympics competition pond. She’s the best counterpuncher in tennis, but even that needs to be redefined.

Kerber’s a defensive offender, or an offensive defender, depending on who she plays. She’s deadly with her short angles and passing shots after luring her opponent into unfamiliar areas in the forecourt. She’s usually money in the late stages, with her 17-6 record in three-set matches in 2016. She’s also 10-3 against top-10 opponents.

Best of all, Kerber proved that her Australian Open title was no fluke. She rebounded from a tough clay-court spring to land in the Wimbledon and Olympics finals, before blowing her opportunity to supplant Serena Williams for the No. 1 ranking with her loss to Karolina Pliskova at the Western & Southern final.

Kerber hit …

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