Angelique Kerber is enjoying a new lease of life in 2018 and spoke of her regained confidence after defeating Karolina Pliskova at the Dubai Tennis Championships. The German produced a fine display in their last-eight meeting on Thursday, losing just eight points on her first serve en route to a 6-4 6-3 success and a third semi-final in four outings this year.
Angelique Kerber at the WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship KARIM SAHIB (AFP)
Kerber's star back on the rise
Having enjoyed a stellar 2016 which yielded Australian and US Open glory, Kerber endured a torrid 2017, failing to go beyond the fourth round at any slam while losing her only WTA Tour final to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the Monterrey Open.
It has been a different story this season, however, Kerber following up her Sydney International victory with a run to the last four of the Australian Open, and the world number nine has another semi-final to look forward to on Friday.
Job done!
— WTA (@WTA) February 22, 2018
.@AngeliqueKerber books her place in @DDFTennis semifinals!
Defeats Pliskova 6-4, 6-3!
Meets last year's champion Svitolina in the next round! pic.twitter.com/qKpuK98EIn