FILE – In this January 21, 1999 file photo, Steffi Graf of Germany returns a shot during her 4-6,6-1,6-2, victory over Barbara Schwartz of Austria at the Australian Open Tennis Championships, Melbourne, Australia.
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But her 36 unforced errors to Kerber’s 11 made the difference.
Meanwhile, her finals opponent Kerber too boasts of comfortable ride except the nerve-wracking first round match against Misaki Doi, where she had to play decider set to fed off rejuvenated Japanese player.
Last year, Williams won the year’s first three Grand Slams – the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon – and headed into the U.S. Open trying to become the first player since Graf in 1988 to collect all four titles in one season. She won the set at 6-3 when the Kerber forehand found the net. The match reached its dramatic peak as Williams broke back, but couldn’t hold serve in a 16-point, back-and-forth sixth game.
The Brit was able to reel off four straight games to ease her way back into the match, but after a brief rain delay Kerber emerged with the first set, 7-5.
And now she is within touching distance of history once again.
Serena Williams will hold on despite a strong performance from Kerber and finish with her seventh title at Melbourne Park and move to equal second with Steffi Graff for most grand slam singles titles sitting behind only Australian Margaret Court.
“Even if I don’t win, I really can take away that I’ve been really consistent and I want to continue that”, Williams added.
“I think she started unbelievable, with such power and speed”.
She is the first German woman to win here since Graf in 1994, and the first lefthander to hoist the Daphne Akhurst Trohpy since Monica Seles in 1996.
While Kerber is heading into her maiden grand slam final, Williams is preparing for her 26th. But we’ll see. I think if I do play her, it will be a really good match.
Preparing for her 26th grand slam final, Serena Williams still had time to reveal her admiration for one of football’s greatest players. “But I think against Roger, these first two sets have been probably the best two sets I’ve played against him overall throughout my career”. Even Agnieszka Radwanska said she felt at times that she was watching Williams as a spectator, and not playing her as a competitor, in their semifinal.
Angelique Kerber has big ambitions to be more than another piece of roadkill on Serena Williams’ seemingly inevitable journey to sporting immortality.
“She taught me actually that I’m on a good way, and try to believe in myself”.
But Kerber was at her retrieving – and attacking – best on a still and handsome night at Rod Laver Arena, jumping to a 3-1 lead as Williams flooded the court with error-ridden tennis. I really enjoyed coming through a lot of battles like that in this last fortnight.
Told later that she appeared to be as happy about the result as Kerber was, Williams said: “Really, I should get into acting!”
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“It’s something I’ll never forget”.
