Serena Williams lost her bid to win a 22nd Grand Slam title of her career as she lost 6-4 3-6 6-4 to Germany’s Angelique Kerber.
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Many times defending champion Williams has stumbled into a third set before motoring to victory but Kerber halted her opponent’s momentum immediately in the decider with a hold and early break.
She was just too solid in the first set, drawing 23 unforced errors from the Williams racquet and breaking twice to take it, 6-4.
The much-hyped Australian Open 2016 final saw Serena Williams get off to a downer with Kerber taking an immediate advantage in the opening set.
The 21-time major victor, serving to level the third set at 5-5, went 0-30 down before earning game point at 40-30.
The 28-year-old is the first German to win a major singles title since Steffi Graf at the 1999 French Open.
Angelique Kerber of Germany plays a shot during her women’s singles final match against Serena Williams at the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne on Saturday.
Kerber had risen into prominence in 2011, when she made the US Open semifinals in 2011 ranked 92 in the world.
The 43-year-old Nestor and 37-year-old Stepanek teamed up just two weeks before the start of the Australian Open.
Murray’s brother Jamie is in the men’s doubles final with Bruno Soares tonight.
“I think I show everybody that I deserve it, that’s a good thing”, she said. You know, would I give myself an A? Under this backdrop the American was once again expected to sweep all before her at the year’s first grand slam, but against Kerber things did not go according to script.
Told later that she appeared to be as happy about the result as Kerber, Williams said: “Really, I should get into acting!”
Kerber, who received a text message of support from Graf ahead of today’s final, said she had to be ready to step up to the plate against the best player in the world.
She was also the first woman to win the title after being knocked out in the first round the previous year since Kerry Melville Reid in 1977.
Serena’s quarterfinal opponent was Maria Sharapova, an opponent who she had beaten 17 straight times heading into their showdown. A victory in Melbourne on Saturday would put her second, behind only Williams.
“Every time I walk in this (press conference) room everyone expects me to win every single match, every single day of my life”, she said.
Read a more comprehensive final preview here by Jake Best.
Williams hit 46 unforced errors – more than double her second highest tally in the tournament – and was broken five times.
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“Physically, I’m feeling a lot better”, said Serena. “Let me be the first to congratulate you”. “I’m so happy for you and I really hope you enjoy this moment”.
