Kerber's march to the top continues in Cincinnati

Aug 18, 2016; Mason, OH, USA; Angelique Kerber (GER) returns a shot against Barbora Strycova (CZE) on day six during the Western and Southern tennis tournament at Linder Family Tennis Center. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) - Angelique Kerber moved a step closer to turning a dream goal into reality with a hard-fought win over Barbora Strycova to reach the quarter-finals of the Western & Southern Open in a hot and humid Cincinnati on Thursday.

The Australian Open champion's 7-6(5) 6-4 victory over the Czech put the German world number two just three wins away from leapfrogging Serena Williams, absent from this event, at the top of the WTA rankings for a first time.