No. 5 Seed Kerber Cruises into Quarterfinals

A little momentum can go a long way, just ask No. 5 seed Angelique Kerber.

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The German has had a slow start to her 2015 season but Thursday strolled through her third-round match, a 6-3, 6-0 winner over Lara Arruabarrena to book a spot in the Volvo Car Open quarterfinals.

A former world No. 5 and two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, Kerber came to Charleston with a 8-9 record in 2015. But after she worked her way to a three-set, come-from-behind win over Evgeniya Rodina in the second round. The lefty baseliner was on her mark Thursday, blasting the Spanish upstart off the court.

“I was just trying to be aggressive (today), and when I went on court I was just, you know, trying to play my game, and it work(ed),” said Kerber, who next faces No. 13 seed Irina-Camelia Begu.

“You know, it’s not easy to came from hard on clay,” the German added. “It’s good for me right now to have wins like that and just take the positive and the confidence from the matches to the next one… I mean I’m practicing very good, and I’m doing everything I can. So right now I’m just going for it.”

No. 8 seed Caroline Garcia couldn’t serve out her match, leading by a set at 5-4 against qualifier Lucie Hradecka. The Czech power hitter came through in a long one on Stadium Court, winning 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 to earn her quarterfinal berth.

American Lauren Davis advanced in her third round match, winning nine straight games after trailing No. 15 seed Mona Barthel 4-0 in the first set. With Davis leading 6-4, 3-0 on Club Court Barthel retired from the match due to dizziness.