NEW YORK, Aug. 30 -- Wimbledon champion and world number four Angelique Kerber from Germany held off an incredible challenge by Sweden's Johanna Larsson to advance into the third round of the U.S. Open women's singles here on Thursday afternoon.
Kerber, the 2016 U.S. Open champion, survived a determined effort from 83rd-ranked Larsson, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Kerber led Larsson 6-2, 5-2, and had a pair of match points in the second set before being extended deep into a decider. The German incredibly lost her last four service games of the second set.
Buoyed by a pair of dramatic saves to keep her alive, Larsson continued her momentum into the final set. She held serve from 0-40 down to begin the final set. But Kerber stepped to the line to serve out the match proved to be the charm, as she rallied from 0-30 down in the set's final game to seal victory.
Kerber needed two hours and 23 minutes to book her spot in the third round opposite No. 29 seed Dominika Cibulkova, who won a similar marathon in the heat to beat Hsieh Su-Wei from Chinese Taipei, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.
"I think we both really played on a really high level from the first point," Kerber said. "In the end it was one or two points to decide the match."
With temperatures flirting with 37 degrees Celsius on Thursday, U.S. Open organizers again implemented an extreme heat policy, which both players took advantage of after the second set.
The policy allows players to take a 10-minute heat break - the women between the second and third sets and the men between the third and fourth sets.
未来3年内 中国将成为全球第二大葡萄酒市场
专利申请折射中国人脸识别热潮
美国公布对华“500亿美元”征税清单,中方这样强硬回应
国内英语资讯:China launches dispute settlement procedure over U.S. Section 232 measures
电影里的街道为什么比现实中好看?
国内英语资讯:Chinas defense setting in Nansha Islands automatic right: spokesperson
北京积分落户细则出台 4月16日启动申报
Turning bread into beer to fight food waste 奥地利人为打击食物浪费用面包造啤酒
20个烂俗电影桥段,哈哈哈我先去笑一会
故宫淘宝官方旗舰店下架网红娃娃
从亚马逊 Go到盒马鲜生,自动化商店热潮来袭
为防恶意剧透,《西部世界》主创决定自己先剧透!不过……
国内英语资讯:China to fight back immediately without hesitation if U.S. announces new tariff list
女性成员更注重朋友,而非异性!
《头号玩家》:斯皮尔伯格的怀旧游戏
火遍全球的山羊瑜伽来到纽约
水果变身艺术品,香蕉还可以这么玩儿
国内英语资讯:Across China: Modern technology helps farmers in busy seasons
婚礼上为什么要砸蛋糕?
黄老板跨界进喜剧圈?竟还要说段子...