Kerber was defending the Open-era best tally of her compatriot Steffi Graf and she did it playing the match of her life, beating Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4 to claim her first major title.
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Having failed to serve out the match a game earlier, Kerber converted after Williams went long, and the American’s dream of achieving the Golden Calendar Slam this year, as well as her eight-match winning streak in Grand Slam finals and six-match winning streak in Australian Open finals, died with it.
“My whole life I’ve worked really hard and now I’m here and I can say I’m a Grand Slam champion and it sounds really insane and unbelievable”.
epa05134952 A general view over Rod Laver arena as Angelique Kerber of Germany (R) celebrates her win against Serena Williams of the United States (L) during the womens finals at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 30 January 2016.
“I think from then on out I’ve been really focused that she’s someone that I really, you know, and everyone, has to take very serious”. This in contrast with Djokovic who played his semi-final against Roger Federer on Thursday and took only four sets with the first two being a breeze for the Serb. She then went for her official trophy photos at a nearby park and gardens, said global media.
“Let me be the first to congratulate you”, Williams said in her post-match speech.
“I had one leg on the plane to Germany and now I’m here”. But the American committed 23 errors in the opening set and Kerber was able to break her serve twice, going on to win the opening set 6-4.
It means Williams’ tally of majors stays at 21 and the list of Grand Slam champions gets an elated and exuberant newcomer.
“She’s had a great month”.
“First of all, I would like to say congratulations to Serena”, the German said. I was surprised and really happy for her. I’m like “whoa, No.2”.
Kerber for her part was almost flawless and force Williams to play good tennis the pressure paid off as the German forced five service breaks two in the first, and three in third set against the top-ranked Williams, who hadnt dropped a set in the previous six rounds.
“Right now I’m not thinking about the next tournaments, the next challenges”.
In a final game riven with tension, Williams succumbed on the first match point with a volley that floated well past the baseline. I try to. But, you know, I do the best that I can.
“She was my idol. She still is my idol”, said Kerber, adding that she remembers a lot of the matches, how Graf moved, how she sliced, how she typically beat her opponents quickly. The German had a minor blip while finishing the match, expectedly so against the mighty Serena Williams, as she was broken while serving for it at 5*-3.
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The 28-year-old is the first German to win a major singles title since Steffi Graf at the 1999 French Open. “Once it got started, it was so intense from the beginning ’till the end that I didn’t really have time to be nervous”. “Now I have beaten Serena and won the championship”.
