BERLIN: Victoria Azarenka retained her all but perfect record against Angelique Kerber with a 6-3, 7-5 victory on Thursday for a place in the quarterfinals of the Berlin grass court tournament.
Azarenka rallied from 5-3 down in the second set, winning the last four games as Kerber dropped serve to love in the ninth game and never recovered.
The seventh seed from Belarus decided the duel of former world number one players and grand slam winners on a fourth match point when Kerber hit a backhand wide.
Azarenka has won 10 of the 11 matches with Kerber whose only win came en-route to her first of three grand slam titles at the 2016 Australian Open.
It was the latest setback for Kerber, who plays one more tune-up for Wimbledon which starts June 28 and where she has low expectations despite winning there in 2018.
"I go to Wimbledon without expectations. I lost in the first round in Melbourne and Paris. So, there are other top favourites," she said.
"I am looking forward to the fans and the place where I had my biggest success. I want to enjoy Wimbledon, the spirit, the flair. Ican only do things better, not worse."
Russian qualifier Liudmila Samsonova also reached the last eight with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over compatriot Veronika Kudermetova.
Organisers meanwhile said that the number of people allowed at the tournament would be doubled to 1,000 from Friday onwards. The rise from 500 in the first four days comes as Berlin's governing senate is further easing its coronavirus restrictions.
The number includes everyone at the venue, from players, umpires and ball children to media, security and fans.
"We are delighted that from Friday onwards we can offer more fans to watch live tennis. This atmosphere on the tribunes is also good for the players," tournament director Barbara Rittner said. -- dpa
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