Kerber advanced at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells with a decisive victory over fellow German Andrea Petkovic. Kerber, who will ascend back to No. 1 when the new computer rankings are released, won 6-2, 6-1. While there were brief flashes of Petkovic’s old self, coming into the tournament with 5 wins and 7 losses this year, a definite improvement over last year, she was no match for a Kerber on the mission to break her Indian Wells losing streak. The two friends hugged it out at the end of the 58-minute match.

Speaking with the press after the loss, the ever-literary Petkovic likened the story arc of her career to a Greek tragedy, and placed herself in the fourth act: falling action. Petkovic cited her inner monolog as a contributing factor to her loss. Because the two players have been friends and played each other since childhood, Petkovic found herself second guessing the placement of her shots. Trying to get ahead of Kerber mentally, who she imagined would anticipate her every move.

Befitting of a tragic hero in classical literature, Petkovic’s tragic flaw was her cerebral nature and it ultimately caused her downfall at the BNP Paribas Open. Adding an element of dramatic irony, Kerber claimed she never even thought about what her opponent was doing. She focused on playing her game and tried not to see her friend on the other side of the net: “I was really trying to being on the moment and on this point and just, yeah, going for it when I have the chance, because I knew that I have to be aggressive.”