Kerber outguns Halep to reach Eastbourne semi-finals

June 28, 2019 | 09:22

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Angelique Kerber continued her fine grass court form ahead of the defence of her Wimbledon title by getting the better of Simona Halep 6-4, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Eastbourne International on Thursday (Jun 27).

kerber outguns halep to reach eastbourne semi finals

Germany's Angelique Kerber returns against Romania's Simona Halep during their women's singles quarter-final match at the WTA Nature Valley International tennis tournament. (Glyn KIRK/AFP)

The three-time Grand Slam champion is homing in on her first title of the year and has now reached the semi-finals in her last four grass court events.

The German broke twice early in both sets to take a commanding lead in the battle between two former world number ones.

Halep got one of the breaks back on both occasions, but Kerber held on to seal victory in just over 70 minutes.

Next up she will face the unseeded Ons Jabeur for a spot in the final after the Tunisian edged out Alize Cornet 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

The two top seeds on the other side of the draw will clash for a place in Saturday's final as world number three Karolina Pliskova and fourth-ranked Kiki Bertens claimed a place in the last four.

Pliskova, who won in Eastbourne two years ago, dropped just two games outclassing Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 6-0.

Bertens had a tougher afternoon, but eventually saw off last year's finalist Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Men’s quarter-finals:

Taylor Fritz (USA) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5)

Kyle Edmund (GBR) bt Daniel Evans (GBR) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4

Sam Querrey (USA) bt Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 7-6 (7/4), 6-2

Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) bt Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-4, 6-3

Women’s quarter-finals:

Ons Jabeur (TUN) bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3

Angelique Kerber (GER) bt Simona Halep (ROU) 6-4, 6-3

Kiki Bertens (NED) bt Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Karolína Plísková (CZE) bt Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) 6-2, 6-0