King, who won six Wimbledon singles titles from 1966 to 1975, was hugely impressed by Williams as she saw off Angelique Kerber to take the Wimbledon title for a seventh time.
Advertisement
The 34-year-old American edged a high-quality final on a blustery Centre Court as she avenged a surprise loss to Kerber in the final of this year’s Australian Open.
World No. 1 Serena Williams clinched the Wimbledon Championship on Saturday at the All England Club, winning her 22nd Grand Slam title. “She brings out the best tennis out of me”. In the final, though, Kerber, a 28-year-old lefty from Germany, proved hard.
After tying Graf’s Open era record for Grand Slam titles won, Williams will now look to set a new bar before 2016 is through, but she can undoubtedly afford to revel in the moment of Saturday’s triumph. So much more. Facing the left-handed Kerber’s reactive, counter-punching style, Williams was by far the more aggressive player, trying to make things happen.
Whatever happens in Saturday’s final, Williams will retain her number one ranking while Kerber will move onto her shoulder into second spot, from fourth.
Others arriving at SW19 to watch the tennis included comedian Peter Kay, West End star Elaine Paige, Miranda actress Sally Phillips and USA stars Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia De Rossi.
Williams’ Wimbledon run is not yet over, as she and her sister will try for another doubles title later in the day.
Kerber was not about to fold, however, finally earning her first break point of the match at 3-3 in the second set after one hour and 13 minutes – only to watch as Williams hammered a 117mph ace out wide.
Having coped admirably with the heavy artillery heading her way, Kerber’s downfall when serving at 5-6 in the first set was self-inflicted as two poor errors opened the door for Serena to take the opener.
And the Florida resident paid tribute to her opponent after yet another Grand Slam success.
“But it makes the victory even sweeter, to know how hard I’ve worked for it”. Her victory at Wimbledon a year ago raised her Grand Slam count to 21, but while she nearly had added to that total since, she was not able to.
In the seventh game of the second, Kerber snatched a 40-30 lead for the first time in the match. “She really played an unbelievable match”, said Kerber, who hadn’t appeared in a major final until beating Williams in Melbourne.
Speaking after winning a 7th Wimbledon title and a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam, Williams said the shootings in Dallas had done nothing to ease racial tensions.
Advertisement
Serena Williams just made history.
