Qatar Open: World No. 6 Angelique Kerber comes back from set down to beat Barbora Strycova in quarter-final

Doha: Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber came back from a set down on Thursday to reach the Qatar Open semi-finals, in a match lasting more than two hours. [caption id=“attachment_5922031” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Angelique Kerber. AP[/caption] The world number six won 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 (7/4) in a tough encounter against Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic — who was given a time violation in the final set — to set up a last-four clash against Kiki Bertens or Elise Mertens. The German not only battled back from being a set down, she was also a break down in the second and third sets before winning through. It is Kerber’s first semi-final since she won at Wimbledon last year. Bertens and Mertens play later on Thursday. Earlier, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina became the first player through to the semi-finals, beating another Czech, qualifier Karolina Muchova 6-4, 6-2. She will either play world number three and top seed in Doha, Simona Halep, or Germany’s Julia Goerges in the next round. That pair also play later on Thursday.