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Angelique Kerber: look out for her on the 2018 WTA Tour

By Harry Floyd

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25: Angelique Kerber of Germany reacts after winning a break point in her semi-final match against Simona Halep of Romania on day 11 of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25: Angelique Kerber of Germany reacts after winning a break point in her semi-final match against Simona Halep of Romania on day 11 of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Angelique Kerber is out of the Australian Open after reaching the semifinals. The former world No. 1 is someone to watch in 2018.

Angelique Kerber could not have had a better start on the 2018 WTA Tour.

After sliding in the rankings last year, she seems to have rediscovered what it was that made her a world No. 1 player. Currently sitting in the No. 16 position, she will rise in the rankings in the coming days. Her fantastic Australian Open run comes on the heels of a title win that kicked off her tour.

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Kerber first showed signs of improvement at this year’s Hopman Cup. Reaching the finals with partner Alexander Zverev, team Germany would fall to Switzerland. The former world No. 1 would, however, win her singles match against Belinda Bencic 6-4 6-1, forcing the match to come down to the mixed doubles action. Her impressive display of tennis that week set her up perfectly for action in Sydney.

Having been a former runner-up at the Sydney International, the German was an interesting contender for the title. She would drop just two sets throughout her entire time in Sydney, ultimately defeating Australia’s own Ashleigh Barty in the finals.

Angelique Kerber could end the year in the WTA top 5.

The sky is the limit right now for Kerber. Her strong run at Melbourne Park cements the thought that she can contend with anyone on tour right now. Taking top seed Simona Halep to a hard fought three set match in the Australian semis, the German showed her fortitude and resilience every step of the way. She is without a doubt a player to watch on the 2018 WTA Tour. Her combination of big tournament experience and newfound energy on court make her an interesting pick in any of the remaining Grand Slam events.

Next: Top 10: Men's Singles Tennis

Look for Angelique Kerber to continue making waves on the 2018 WTA Tour. She will rise in the rankings thanks to her play at Melbourne Park and ought to continue her upwards trajectory in the coming months. Stay tuned to see how the German tennis star and former world No. 1 fares throughout the rest of this year’s tour.

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