US Open 2020: Angelique Kerber vs Ann Li preview, head-to-head & prediction
Match details
Fixture: (17) Angelique Kerber vs Ann Li
Date: 4 September 2020
Tournament: US Open 2020
Round: Third round (Round of 32)
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York, USA
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $39,024,000
Match timing: 12.30 pm EDT, 10 pm IST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel / ESPN | India - Star Sports / Disney+ Hotstar VIP
Angelique Kerber vs Ann Li preview
2016 champion Angelique Kerber will be aiming for a spot in the fourth round of the US Open 2020 when she takes on 20-year-old Ann Li at Flushing Meadows on Friday.
Kerber might have been out of action for seven months since her fourth-round loss at the Australian Open, but she hasn't let the long break affect her performances in New York. The fighting spirit and the determination to succeed are all very much in place for the 32-year-old, as shown in her two matches so far at the US Open.
It took some time for the German southpaw to shake off her rustiness in her first-round face-off against Ajla Tomljanovic. She peppered the court with unforced errors early on, but managed to pull through by refusing to make any mistakes on the break points.
In her second-round clash with Anna-Lena Friedsam, the 17th seed staved off a late challenge from her compatriot to register a 6-3, 7-6(6) victory.
The former World No. 1 next locks horns with the up-and-coming Ann Li, who has won US Open main draw matches for the first time in her career.
The World No. 128 had a prolific junior career, and lost the first-ever all-American girls' final at the Wimbledon Championships since 1979 to Claire Liu in 2017.
Li has shown maturity beyond her years at this year's US Open. She accounted for World No. 68 Arantxa Rus 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 to open her challenge, and followed it up with a 6-0, 6-3 hammering of 13th seed Alison Riske.
Angelique Kerber vs Ann Li head-to-head
Angelique Kerber and Ann Li have never met each other prior to their impending US Open 2020 clash, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
There is a huge gulf in rankings and experience between the two. Li had never even won a Grand Slam match before this season, while Kerber's sparkling resume has titles from the US Open, the Australian Open as well as the Wimbledon Championships.
Angelique Kerber vs Ann Li prediction
Three-time Major winner Angelique Kerber is the overwhelming favorite in this showdown. In fact, with the courts being sped up this year, the German has even more of an advantage as she doesn't need to generate pace of her own.
While the odds are heavily stacked in her favor, Kerber cannot afford even a tiny bit of complacency. Li has been rising quickly through the ranks, and is improving with every match. While she still has plenty of work to do on her returns, that hasn't been much of a concern for her this week.
Li looks to have adapted to the speed of the courts very well and is hitting with precision and depth. She would need to keep that going to have any chance against the barrage of stinging lefty groundstrokes coming from the other side.
Prediction: Angelique Kerber to win in straight sets.