Kerber, who defeated Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to add the NY crown to the one she claimed in January in Melbourne, now plans a two-week tennis break.
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“All the dreams came true this year”.
“When I was a kid I was always dreaming to one day be the number one player in the world, to win grand slams”, said Kerber, who hadn’t won one of the four major tournaments before this year.
It was the Swiss players first NY title, following his breakthrough 2014 Australian Open triumph and 2015 Roland Garros crown.
Angelique Kerber said improving her fitness laid the foundation for her triumph in US Open 2016.
“And now, to be the next after her, to be a German No. 1 and win Grand Slams, this is, for me, really important”.
Speaking to reporters after her victory, Kerber revealed how a text message from her idol and tennis great Steffi Graf helped motivate her to win the final against an in-form Karolina Pliskova.
Steffi Graf, who hails from Germany but is now settled in the United States, continues to hold the record for the highest number of singles Grand Slam titles in the Open Era, across both genders, with 22 majors to her name. “And now to see that the work pays off, this is actually the best feeling”. “But exactly what it will be I do not know yet”.
Kerber, who officially takes over from Serena Williams as the world’s top ranked player on Monday, underlined her number one status displaying the heart of a champion as she fought off a fierce challenge from Czech 10th seed Pliskova on a steamy afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Pliskova, who survived a match point en route to a fourth-round victory over Venus Williams, was almost betrayed by her nerves as up 3-0 in the tiebreaker she produced three errors, including a double fault. “I had just positive emotions”, Kerber said.
“I beat very good players”.
“Even when she was down a set and break she was still fighting”.
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She executed a fantastic service game and clinched the victory on Pliskova’s 47th unforced error of the match. “I won my second grand slam in one year”. She certainly deserves it a lot. “When I was going down the line I knew, Okay, now I have to risk a little bit, because this is the only chance I can get”.
