Angelique Kerber battles past Caroline Wozniacki to win Stuttgart Grand Prix

Angelique Kerber prevailed over Caroline Wozniacki in a gruelling three-set match to win her fifth career title.

Angelique Kerber capped off a near perfect week at the Stuttgart Grand Prix with a hard-fought win over Caroline Wozniacki to clinch her second consecutive title. The 27-year-old German was on a loose footing after she dropped the first set, but regained her confidence swiftly to close out the match 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Kerber is having nothing short of a fantastic month. Only two weeks ago, the German beat Madison Keys in the final of the Family Circle Cup at Charleston.

However, it was heartbreak for former World Number one Caroline Wozniacki, who failed to press her advantage after having won the first set, 6-3, with relative ease. The Dane also failed to capitalise on an early break in the third set, allowing Kerber to take the match and the title, to the delight of the German fans at Stuttgart.

Kerber was apparently overwhelmed by the support that she received from the fans. "I am completely done here, empty. I gave everything I had and the crowd just carried me; I had to fight until the very end and I could not have done it without this crowd”, said Kerber.

En route to the final, Kerber ousted defending champion Maria Sharapova in a tensely fought match that lasted two hours and 27 minutes. Kerber’s 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 win ended Sharapova’s 13-match unbeaten run at the tournament.