Kerber stuns Pliskova, reaches Dubai semis

Dubai, Feb 22: Germany's Angelique Kerber on Thursday defeated Karolí Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3 to book a place in the semi-fils of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a hard-court WTA event here.

The sixth-seed Kerber did not face any break points during the clash of former world No. 1s that lasted one hour and 14 minutes, reports Efe.

One serve break in each set was all Kerber needed to earn her seventh win over Pliskova, seeded No. 3, in ten career matches between the two tennis stars.

The 2018 Sydney Intertiol champion Kerber is set to play against Eli Svitoli of Ukraine, who defeated Japanese wild card omi Osaka 6-2, 6-4.

In the other quarter-fil matches, Russian Daria Kasatki is to play against her countrywoman Ele Vesni, while Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza, the second seed, will take on French Caroline Garcia. IANS