Angelique Kerber: recapping her January and February performance

Angelique Kerber remains the world No. 2 in women’s singles tennis. Here’s a look at her performance in January and February of 2017.

Angelique Kerber starts 2017 after a career year in 2016.

The current world No. 2 bookended her tour last year with Grand Slam singles titles at both the Australian and US Open. Here’s how her first two months of 2017 ended up.

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Kerber came into the Australian circuit as the defending champion at Melbourne Park. She has plenty to prove this year, and she set out to do so in January at Brisbane.

After an opening round three-set victory for the top-seeded Kerber, she met Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals at Brisbane. Svitolina opened with a first set victory, forcing the world No. 2 to play from behind. Despite winning the second set, Kerber was bounced from Brisbane after the three-set loss to Svitolina.

Next came Sydney. Kerber, again the top-seeded player, faced Daria Kasatkina in her first match at the tournament. Never finding her rhythm, the German tennis player was upset by 19-year-old Kasatkina in straight sets.

With two disappointing outings to start the year, Kerber found herself at Melbourne Park as the defending women’s singles champion. She advanced into a fourth round match with American tennis player Coco Vandeweghe. While Kerber had largely proven herself up until that point in the Grand Slam, she was no match for the American who upset her in straight sets. The upset cleared the way for Serena Williams who would strengthen her hold on the world No. 1 ranking with a title at Melbourne Park.

In February, Kerber found herself at the Qatar Total Open. The tournament could not have gone any worse for the world No. 2. Kasatkina, once again, did the impossible and upset Kerber in her first match.

Despite the tough outings to start the year, Kerber maintained a hold on the world No. 2 ranking and came into Dubai a new player. She cruised through her first three matches, never dropping a single set. Kerber’s path to the semifinals included a win over up and coming star Monica Puig. Kerber would meet Svitolina in the semifinals. While Svitolina again had the German’s number, the world No. 2 fought hard but lost to the eventual champion.

2017 has had its ups and downs for Angelique Kerber. She has seen early exits and glimmers of potential glory. She does, however, remain in a solid position as the world No. 2. It is difficult for any player to replicate the year she had in 2016, but she will continue to work hard throughout the rest of the 2017 WTA Tour.

Next: 2017 WTA Tour: 5 Players To Watch

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