American Serena Williams on Saturday defeated Germany’s Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 to win the 2016 Wimbledon women’s single title.
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After Serena Williams became the second woman “in the Open Era to reach 22 Grand Slam singles titles” this morning, she and sister Venus Williams won their 14th Grand Slam doubles titles together, SB Nation reports.
In Serena, you had one of tennis’s greatest ever servers and power hitters pitted against Kerber, a great retriever.
“I really enjoyed the final today and it was a great atmosphere out there and I will never forget the feeling”. “Of course, it’s one of my goals one day to be the number one”, she said.
Between beating Angelique Kerber in straight sets to take the singles title and being called to the court for the doubles, Serena Williams had paraded her trophy, signed autographs, held a press conference and conducted television interviews.
“I think I played what I could today”, the fourth-seeded Kerber said.
“I think we did not realise how much time she needed to recover from the loss at the US Open”.
Serena Williams celebrates winning her 22nd Grand Slam title. Once I started focusing more on the positives, I realized that I’m pretty good.
“It wasn’t one conversation”, Williams said.
Saturday was Williams’s 28th Grand Slam final, just six short of Chris Evert’s record.
But Williams’ expectations are higher than those of others and so, by the time we get to the US Open, which begins in late August, the hype will be in full swing again.
“I think if anything, I was able to show resilience”, Williams said.
“I love gold. Not to knock the Olympics, but right now I am probably focused a little more on the slams, or at least I was with getting to 22”, she said.
“I do have nephews that I’m thinking, Do I have to call them and tell them, ‘Don’t go outside.’ If you get in your auto, it might be the last time I see you”.
He said: “I don’t like 22, I don’t like 24, because Serena doesn’t equal, she beats records”. But on the grass that suits Williams’ game so well, Kerber simply could not quite keep up with the trophy on the line, although it was a high-quality match that was more competitive than the scoreline might indicate.
Graf notched up her 22nd Slam in 1999 at the French Open, before retiring from tennis – leaving her two spots behind Margaret Court, who won her 24th Slam in 1973.
She replied: “I prefer the word, one of the greatest “athletes” of all time”.
Kerber came out fighting from the start, trading hard groundstrokes with Williams, mixing up her play and holding serve. She slammed 13 aces.
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“The good thing, I liked it, is that she won that match with the same volley that made her lose the match in Melbourne on match point”.
