Back to Kerber through to final eight

Kerber through to final eight

German fifth seed Angelique Kerber has moved into the Brisbane International quarterfinals after Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova retired injured in their second-round clash on Wednesday.
1 January 2014, by AAP

German fifth seed Angelique Kerber has moved into the Brisbane International quarterfinals after Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova retired injured in their second-round clash on Wednesday.

World No.9 Kerber led 6-2 4-3 before last year’s Brisbane finalist Pavlyuchenkova succumbed to a left thigh injury.

Pavlyuchenkova – the world No.26 – took a medical timeout to have her left leg strapped trailing 3-2 in the second set before lasting just two more games.

Two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Kerber booked a quarterfinal clash with former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic.

Pavlyuchenkova’s injury followed the withdrawal of Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki (illness) from her second-round clash with Swiss player Stefanie Voegele on Wednesday.

Officials confirmed that the world No.15 and German seventh seed was suffering a gastrointestinal illness.

Lisicki was on track to play world No.2 Victoria Azarenka in the Brisbane quarterfinals.