“I knew that I have the game to beat the best players if I was just patient and worked really hard”, said Kerber, who becomes only the second woman from Germany to win a US Open title in the tournament’s 136-year history after the five-times victor Steffi Graf.
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“I felt this was one of the biggest things, when you know you can run forever on court and you’re not anxious that you can play three sets”.
Kerber knocked off Williams by simply advancing to Saturday’s US Open final, but then went one better by beating Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to win the second Grand Slam of her career, after having won the Australian Open back in February. “Now I can also take the next step and try to stay as long as I can there”.
And coupled with a resolve as stern and as exact as German engineering, she kept the faith.
Kerber traveled to the Western and Southern Open in OH directly after the Rio Games and made it to the final there as well, facing the same opponent she faced in the Flushing Meadows final, Czech player Karolina Pliskova. “Melbourne was different as it was my first grand slam”.
Kerber begins reign as number one with U.S. Open win was posted in Sports of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on September 12, 2016 and was last updated on September 12, 2016.
“I was always dreaming to being one day to being No. 1 and to be in the Grand Slams”, Kerber said. Williams had been number one for a record-equalling 186 straight weeks.
There are just a few grand slam one-off winners, such as Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro (both US Open winners) in the age of the Big Four (or Six, considering the Williams sisters, or seven adding in Wawrinka!), and most are not expected to repeat the feat.
After Australia, she didn’t win either of the next two majors in the French Open and Wimbledon, although she was again in the finals-at Wimbledon.
Kerber finished last year ranked 10th in the world and turned dreams into a reality this year after rededicating herself. “I just have to go for my shots”.
Kerber, who beat Pliskova in three sets in NY, having secured the top spot days earlier following Serena Williams’ exit, said her improved fitness and mental strength had been key to her success.
Kerber said if you believe in your fitness, you believe in yourself.
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Wawrinka, who had to save a match point to beat unheralded Dan Evans in the third round, committed 51 unforced errors but crucially smashed 46 winners past his opponent.
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She executed a fantastic service game and clinched the victory on Pliskova’s 47th unforced error of the match.
