Serena Williams left the US Open without her No. 1 world ranking, and without her 23rd Grand Slam championship, too. I waited for this moment all my life, ” she said.
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Angelique Kerber, of Germany, poses with the WTA No. 1 trophy after winning the women’s single final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in NY.
In the end, however, her 47 unforced errors – a outcome of her big-hitting approach – compared to Kerber’s meagre 17 proved her undoing.
Kerber won most of the big points in the first set-and-a-half against the tall, powerful Pliskova, who was appearing in a first grand slam final.
Stan Wawrinka celebrates with the US Open trophy.
That it would happen at Flushing Meadows is fitting.
Her level of improvement is unusual so late in a tennis career in the women’s game.
Furthermore, before NY she had never got beyond the third round of a Slam in 17 attempts. “And now, to be the next after her, to be a German No.1 and win grand slams, this is, for me, really important”.
In that game, she had been down, 0-30, and held serve to lead, 4-3.
Kerber had won the opening set 6-3. Even after her capitulation in the final game, Pliskova said she had no regrets.
Not that everything went smoothly those five years in between. Kerber won this year’s Australian Open and was the runner-up at Wimbledon.
And that run in Melbourne nearly never happened.
The match ran 2 hours, 7 minutes with Kerber holding a narrow 97-90 margin in points. However, Serena Williams is such a rare and gifted athlete who can fail but still be immeasurably successful.
Stay with Lob and Smash for more summary of the U.S. Open this year, as well previews of what is to come in the rest of the 2016 tennis season.
“He couldn’t win this but I did so, yeah, get it up you, Andy!”
It was Pliskova of the Czech Republic who guaranteed Kerber’s ascension in the rankings by beating Williams in the semifinals, ending her streak of 186 that equaled Graf’s mark.
But the mental strength she’s tried to cultivate was there when she needed it on Saturday.
Kerber spent two weeks at Flushing Meadows listening to – and trying to block out – questions about another opportunity to overtake Williams for the top spot. And now she’s done the unthinkable: usurping Serena Williams for the No. 1 ranking. If someone would tell me I’m going to play finals in this tournament two weeks ago, I would take it. “It’s incredible. I’m standing here with a second Grand Slam trophy and it means so much to me”.
She faded in three-set matches. Moved sluggishly around the court.
“This is also special that she is German”.
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Kerber’s success, based on hard work, ought to encourage plenty of other players. Because I was a lot of hours on the practice courts, sweating and everything, and you are just playing for this moment to being on the center court in the final and with the fantastic crowd.
