It was a double delight for Serena at Wimbledon 2016 as she not only won the women’s singles title, but has also notched up the women’s doubles crown alongside her elder sister Venus Williams.
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The Centre Court crowd had thinned but the warmth remained.
“I really enjoyed the final today and it was a great atmosphere out there and I will never forget the feeling”. It was getting down to the pressure”, – said Serena, who speaking in detail about that US Open semifinal added: “I don’t think it shook me.
It was a big moment for her little sister, but Venus Williams didn’t even realise that Serena had won.
After Williams failed to convert on three break points in Kerber’s first service game, they played even-with many highlights-until Williams broke serve to close out the set.
The iconic 34-year-old will also be due a share of the £350,000 prize money for her doubles triumph over Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova, so it ought to be a lively night for the Williams family. Seven weeks ago Kerber was left distraught after she suffered a shock defeat by Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens in the opening round of Roland Garros in her first match at a major since joining the grand slam winners’ club in Australia.
The man with the golden arm tops the list for aces (137) and fastest serve (144mph) at this year’s tournament after he pole-axed Roger Federer for the first time in a major to became the first Canadian man to reach a grand slam final. Not to say that she’s unbeatable but she was much more beatable.
Kerber, who beat Williams in the final of the Australian Open earlier this year, didn’t give this one away. In the photo, Williams is sprawled out across the court taking in her sweet success.
Recalled Mouratoglou on Saturday: “I felt like the Serena I know was back”.
And she faced just one break point – at 3-all in the second set, it represented Kerber’s only real opening – and shut the door quickly and emphatically, with a pair of aces at 117 miles per hour and 124 miles per hour, her fastest of the afternoon.
“I had to start looking at positives, not focusing on that one loss per tournament which really isn’t bad – for anyone else on this tour they would be completely happy about it”, she said. “You really deserve it, you are a great champion, a great person”, Kerber said. Williams is now tied with tennis legend Steffi Graf for the previously undisputed Open Era record. Then I’ll go on to the next title and then I’ll see how I feel.
So, Williams was asked Saturday, is she already thinking about No. 25, to surpass Court?
“It’s been incredibly hard not to think about”, Williams said in an interview on Centre Court.
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“Played a good match”, Kerber said.
