Kerber beats Halep at Eastbourne; Pliskova advances

Posted June 27, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Angelique Kerber of Germany, right, shakes hands with Simona Halep of Romania, after defeating her at the quarter-finals of the Nature Valley International tennis tournament, at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, Thursday, June 27, 2019. Kerber won 6-4, 6-3. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) The Associated Press

EASTBOURNE, England (AP) - Defending Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber beat Simona Halep for the first time since 2016, winning their quarterfinal at Eastbourne 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday.

Kerber converted five of seven break points to reach the semifinals for the second straight tournament following her first-round elimination at the French Open.

The fourth-seeded Kerber moved to a 5-6 career record against the Romanian.

Kerber will play Ons Jabeur in the semifinals after the Tunisian recovered from a slow start to beat Alize Cornet 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Second-seeded Karolina Pliskova blasted past Ekaterina Alexandrova in just 54 minutes, firing 22 winners on her way to a 6-2, 6-0 victory. She will meet third-seeded Kiki Bertens who advanced with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over Aryna Sabalenka.

In the men's draw, third-seeded Kyle Edmund won an all-British quarterfinal against Dan Evans 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. His next opponent is Taylor Fritz, who eliminated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Sam Querrey beat fifth-seeded Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (4), 6-2 to set up a semifinal with qualifier Thomas Fabbiano, who upset Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-3.

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Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands celebrates defeating Aryna Sabalenka of the Belarus in the singles match on day five of Eastbourne International at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England, Thursday June 27, 2019. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Angelique Kerber of Germany celebrates after defeating Simona Halep of Romania at the quarter-finals of the Nature Valley International tennis tournament, at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, Thursday, June 27, 2019. Kerber won 6-4, 6-3. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in action during the singles match against Alize Cornet of France during day five of the Eastbourne Open tennis tournament at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England, Thursday June 27, 2019. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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