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Angelique Kerber’s dream calendar year keeps on giving with the German to take on Monica Puig for gold at Rio. Can the world No.22 triumph? Or will Puig cause an upset and give Puerto Rico their first ever gold medal. Join The Roar from 4am (AEST) for live coverage.
Kerber has risen to prominence in 2016 and quickly established herself as the world’s second best player.
The German has already won her first grand slam at the Australian Open while finishing runner-up to Serena Williams at Wimbledon.
She last appeared at the Olympics back in London during 2012 when she was knocked out by bronze medallist Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals.
Kerber has won eight of her last ten matches after a semifinal finish at the Canadian Masters and goes into the match as the outright favourite.
Her left hand has helped her to cruise through the Olympics with early wins over Mariana Duque-Marino 6-3, 7-5 and Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 6-2 solidifying her claims before she ousted Australian Samantha Stosur 6-0, 7-5.
Kerber kicked off the quarterfinals by defeating Brit Johanna Konta 6-1, 6-2 going on to knock over Madison Keys 6-3, 7-5 and continue her unbeaten run.
She comes up against Monica Puig who has also had a year to remember in 2016.
The Puerto Rican has burst onto the scene since finishing runner-up at the Sydney International earlier in the year and going deep into the Australian and French Opens.
Having won eight of her last ten matches, Puig will be hunting Puerto Rico’s first gold medal with the small central American nation having won two silver medals and six bronze from 17 games since debuting in London at 1948.
Puig opened the games strongly with wins over Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-2 and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova before causing a massive upset by knocking out world No.3 Garbine Muguruza in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.
The Boricua then took out Kerber’s compatriot Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals 6-1, 6-1 before defeating Petra Kvitova in a three-set thriller 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to book her place in the final.
Kerber and Puig have played each other twice with the German winning both matches.
They last met at the Canadian masters in 2015 with Kerber prevailing 6-2, 6-3.
Prediction
Angelique Kerber will deny Puerto Rico a gold medal with a straight sets victory.
Kerber in straight sets.
Join The Roar from around 4am (AEST) for live coverage following the completion of Juan Martin Del Potro and Rafael Nadal.
Be sure to drop a comment in the box below if you’re watching the match.
You can find Riley on Twitter @rileypettigrew.