Russian teen Kasatkina stuns Kerber

AFP, SYDNEY: Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina put Angelique Kerber's Australian Open preparations in a spin with a straight-sets upset win over the world number one at the Sydney International on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old, ranked 26, underlined her huge potential with a confident performance to take out the German, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in a second-round match played in sweltering conditions.
Only last week Kasatkina held a match point before going down to French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the second round at the Brisbane International.
While she continues her march, Kerber's form is a concern ahead of next week's opening Grand Slam of the year, having also lost to Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International last week.
Kerber, who had a breakthrough 2016, winning two Grand Slams on her way to becoming world number one, struggled to find any rhythm and her usually strong forehand was astray.
Asked about her emotions after her biggest win yet, Kasatkina said courtside: “Difficult to explain because I beat the number one in the world and it doesn't happen every day. I think I got some confidence.”
Kasatkina will next play British world number 10 Johanna Konta, whose formidable serve troubled Australia's Daria Gavrilova in a 6-1, 6-3 win.
“I'm just happy I have accumulated a few matches already under my belt in the first few weeks of the season,” Konta said.
It was a day of upsets in Sydney where temperatures sizzled around 36 Celsius (97 Fahrenheit), with defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and last year's finalist Dominika Cibulkova both knocked out in the second round.

Russian teen Kasatkina stuns Kerber

AFP, SYDNEY: Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina put Angelique Kerbers Australian Open preparations in a spin with a straight-sets upset win over the world number one at the Sydney International on Tuesday. The 19-year-old, ranked 26, underlined her huge potential with a confident performance to take out the German, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in a second-round match played in sweltering conditions. Only last week Kasatkina held a match point before going down to French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the second round at the Brisbane International. While she continues her march, Kerbers form is a concern ahead of next weeks opening Grand Slam of the year, having also lost to Ukraines Elina Svitolina 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International last week. Kerber, who had a breakthrough 2016, winning two Grand Slams on her way to becoming world number one, struggled to find any rhythm and her usually strong forehand was astray. Asked about her emotions after her biggest win yet, Kasatkina said courtside: Difficult to explain because I beat the number one in the world and it doesnt happen every day. I think I got some confidence. Kasatkina will next play British world number 10 Johanna Konta, whose formidable serve troubled Australias Daria Gavrilova in a 6-1, 6-3 win. Im just happy I have accumulated a few matches already under my belt in the first few weeks of the season, Konta said. It was a day of upsets in Sydney where temperatures sizzled around 36 Celsius (97 Fahrenheit), with defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and last years finalist Dominika Cibulkova both knocked out in the second round.