Later, Williams earned a second piece of hardware when she and Venus beat Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-4 for their sixth doubles trophy at Wimbledon and 14th from all majors.
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She had clambered up the last rung of the hard ladder on Saturday on Centre Court to tie Steffi Graf at 22 Grand Slam titles, atop the Open Era that began in 1968.
Saturday witnessed Serena overpowering all the hurdles to emerge as champion over the German competitor and also to become one of the world’s greatest tennis players.
“I’ve had great dreams”.
In her pursuit of one of the most elusive records in tennis, the third time proved the charm for Serena Williams at Wimbledon on Saturday, beating Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3.
Equalling Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles will be Serena’s next goal.
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.
Kerber played great too and was even applauded by her rival in the fourth game of the second set when she finished off a 15-stroke end-to-end baseline rally by curling in a blazing backhand victor despite nearly running off into the side stands.
“Once I started focusing more on the positives, I realised I’m pretty good”.
Serena had found a number of crucial volleys to help her sister out in the opener and that continued in the second as they had too much for their opponents. She now has an overall record of 22-6 in Grand Slam finals, while Graf was 22-9.
Since winning Wimbledon 12 months ago, Serena had been stuck on 21 Slams after losing in the US Open semi-finals and this year’s Australian and French Open finals. Melbourne and Paris – where she lost the final to Garbine Muguruza – disappointing. But it is also one that has left some of the greatest sportspersons we know frustrated and defeated.
King felt Williams ” looked depressed” earlier in the year, as her form fell marginally below her highest standards. “You just have to work hard for what you want”, said Serena. Kerber only managed one break point opportunity in the entire match, and it was quickly erased by a Williams ace, one of the 13 she struck in the match. “One thing I learned about the past year is to enjoy the moment”.
But if Williams’ rivals hoped her fourth title double at the All England Club may have been the strawberries and cream on top of an extraordinary career, they better think again. Vesnina won just three points off the Williams serve in the first set and none in the second. “It ” s never easy out there, every point you have to fight for”, she said. Kerber played some wonderful tennis, and lost her own serve only once each set, but that was enough. “Venus won so many times here and was playing really well”.
Serena expects a lot by her : “I put a lot of that pressure on myself”.
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“But right now I am probably a little more focused on the Slams – or at least I was with getting to 22. I’m definitely going to enjoy this”.
