Speaking after winning a seventh Wimbledon title and a record-equalling 22nd grand slam, Williams said the shootings in Dallas had done nothing to ease racial tensions.
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She hit 13 aces, won 38 of 43 points when the first ball was in, and faced just one break point, avenging her loss against Kerber at the Australian Open a year ago to claim her 7th Wimbledon win.
Venus Williams, Serena’s older sister and doubles partner, was watching in her guest box.
Describing Serena’s performance as “unbelievable”, the 28-year-old German said that the top-ranked player performed really well and that she truly deserved to win. She played really well and every single point I really had to work for and nothing was given to me so it made for a really good match.
Serena has clinched a total of 71 career titles in contrast to Kerber’s nine titles. “Angelique brings out great tennis in me”, said Serena.
To complete a golden day, Serena later teamed up with sister Venus to beat Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-4 to claim their sixth Wimbledon doubles title. The sisters, who paired up again this year after a two-year absence, have won 14 grand slam doubles titles together – moving them level with American Gigi Fernandez and Belarussian Natasha Zvereva in second place on the all-time list. “I’m going my own way”.
But Williams’ defeat by the German in Melbourne and then by Garbine Muguruza in last month’s French Open final had hardened her resolve, and the world No. 1 was not to be denied.
“I had to start looking at positives, not focusing on that one loss per tournament – which really isn’t bad, and anyone else on this tour would be completely happy about it”, she said.
‘I’m really living for the moment right now, trying to take this up and enjoy it and embrace it. Then I’ll go on to the next title and then I’ll see how I feel.
When reminded the talk now will be about equaling or surpassing Court’s 24 major wins, Williams shook her head.
Williams, patrolling her baseline with menace, bit into the Kerber serve in the second game but failed to convert any of the three break points she had.
Serena Williams celebrates with the winner’s trophy at Wimbledon after taking the singles title …
Before Williams hired him, following a first round loss at the 2012 French Open, she had been going through a lean spell having drawn a blank at the majors for nearly two years.
“I’ve had great dreams”. But also I know I played a good final. But I’m not thinking about this. So I knew that going into this one, I just needed to keep calm, be confident, just play the tennis that I’ve been playing for well over a decade.’ Speaking about how she felt emotionally through all the match, said: ‘I felt a little more stress in the first set.
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Now the wait is over and Williams’ case to be considered the greatest of all time swells even further.
