Kerber stays in chase for tennis world number one spot

Olympic silver medallist Angelique Kerber is just two wins away from becoming the world number one after defeating Carla Suarez Navarro 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters. Kerber could overhaul long-time number one Serena Williams if she wins the title on Sunday at the final major tune-up prior to the US Open. Williams is not playing here due to injury. "It all feels amazing, I'm seeing all the hard work of the last few years paying off," said Kerber, 28, who beat Williams in the final of the Australian Open but lost to her at the same stage at Wimbledon. "This is a moment for which I've been dreaming -- and now I'm living the dream. "It's been an incredible year for me. A lot of things have changed but I'll still a few matches away from number one. "I'm not thinking about it, so let's see what happens in the next few days." Kerber, who lost to Monica Puig of Puerto Rico in the Olympic final, needed a fightback against Spain's Suarez Navarro to finally post her 46th victory of the season on the WTA Tour. The German trailed 0-30 in the final game of the deciding set as she tried to serve it out, saving three break points and finally advancing in the summer heat on a third match point. "It was not so easy to turn it all around in the second set. But I never doubted my game, I knew I could turn the match. "I was going for my shots when I had the chance and trying to shorten the rallies. I believed in my game and fought to the last point. Now I'm through to the semis." Czech fifth seed Karolina Pliskova advanced over Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 and next plays either fourth seed Garbine Muguruza, the French Open champion, or Hungarian outsider Timea Babos.