Inner-U

Angelique Kerber battled back from the brink of defeat to beat Caroline Wozniacki, conquer the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and keep her clay court winning streak alive....

STUTTGART, Germany - It wasn't easy, but Angelique Kerber kept her perfect start to the clay court season alive Sunday, edging Caroline Wozniacki in a nail-biter to win the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

Kerber and Wozniacki had played some phenomenal tennis to get to the final - they were responsible for taking out the Top 2 seeds en route to the final, Kerber taking out No.1 seed Maria Sharapova in the second round and Wozniacki outlasting No.2 seed Simona Halep in an almost-three hour semifinal.

And they brought out their best tennis again on Sunday, with Wozniacki drawing first blood by taking the 32-minute first set, 6-3, then Kerber retaliating with a runaway 25-minute second set, 6-1.

There was all kinds of drama in the third set, with Wozniacki jumping out to a 3-1 lead, then Kerber catching up to 3-all, then Wozniacki again leaning ahead 5-3, and coming within two points of victory at 30-15, but again Kerber digging out of it, breaking to get back on serve then holding for 5-all.

In the end Kerber's momentum was just too strong, and she managed to win the last four games of the match to close out the No.4-seeded Dane after two hours and four minutes, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.

"It was small things today that made the difference," Wozniacki told the crowd. "I had 5-3 in the third set and 30-all, and it could have gone both ways, but she took her chances and it went her way.

"We're great friends, we hang out a lot and practice a lot together, and it's always nice to play a friend in a final. You obviously want to win, but if you don't win, it's still nice that your friend does."

"A few days ago I said clay is actually not my favorite surface, but right now I think I will change my mind," Kerber said. "I've played very well on clay the last few days and weeks. I feel good that I have had so many matches on clay, and now I'm looking forward to the next tournaments before Paris.

"Of course I'm a little bit tired - I've had a lot of matches the last few weeks, and also a lot of travel. So that's why I'm for sure taking the next few days off, just relaxing a little bit before I go to Madrid."

Kerber is now 11-0 since the tour switched to clay a few weeks ago, and this is her equal-biggest title too - she also won Premier titles at Paris [Indoors] in 2012 and Charleston two weeks ago.

Source:- WTA Tennis