“It’s the best year of my career”, she told reporters (h/t USA Today).
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It certainly seemed improbable when Kerber finished 2015 ranked 10th in the world.
About to contest her third Grand Slam final of the year, Angelique Kerber couldn’t help but hear the part of player introductions when she was announced to the crowd as soon-to-be No. 1 in the rankings.
Kerber is seeded No. 2, but already is assured of overtaking Serena Williams at No. 1 in the rankings on Monday, regardless of the outcome of the final.
“It’s just awesome. I won my second Grand Slam of the year and it’s the best year of my career”, Kerber said after the match.
“It was always my dream to be number one and to win Grand Slams”, exclaimed a visibly exhilarated, but relieved, Angelique Kerber.
“You know, it’s never easy for the player who is attacking and is doing more mistakes”, Pliskova said. And after frittering away her first four break points, she converted her fifth with a lob-volley victor that curled over Kerber and alit right by the baseline.
“Then she has the whole court open”, said Pliskova. With Kerber, it was striking how quickly she shut down the notion of doubt.
She was able to maintain it with authoritative play from the baseline, fending off three break points before cracking Pliskovas serve again when the Czech double-faulted to give her a set point.
But Kerber, the Australian Open champion in January and Wimbledon runner-up in July, proved too steady an obstacle – in the first set, the 28-year-old committed just three unforced errors.
Kerber won the toss and elected to receive, perhaps for two reasons: Her serve is the biggest question mark in her otherwise solid game, and it made sense to force Pliskova to deal with an early test of nerves.
Kerber wiped tears of joy and relief from her eyes before accepting a winner’s cheque for $3.5 million and a gleaming silver trophy after fighting back to beat Karolina Pliskova in a display worthy of the new number one player in women’s tennis.
Serving for the set three games later, the Czech fired her fourth ace of the match out wide for set point. Suddenly, the match was level at a set apiece, the same situation Kerber found herself in against Serena Williams at Melbourne Park seven-and-a-half months ago.
In the end, Kerber’s experience probably made the difference in the German’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory, Pliskova said.
Faced with the challenge, Kerber admitted she was “a little negative” in the second set. Because she is a tough opponent and she goes for it whenever she has a chance. “I was a little negative in the second set and then in the third set when I was [suffering a] break down, I was just telling myself “OK stay positive and believe in your own game” like I did in Australia”. “Even [though] I couldn’t get the win, I’m really happy”. Two errors gave a break back to Kerber in the sixth game.
“I’m ready to have this pressure on my shoulders”, Kerber said.
Instead, she reached the semifinals, where she fell in three sets to eventual champion Sam Stosur.
Amidst the disappointment she was looking forward to building on her breakthrough Slam performance.
“I didn’t play a lefty girl in this tournament”.
For Pliskova, who will rise to No.6 in the rankings after the loss, there’s no sadness or regrets after competing in such a high-quality, closely contested major final, the first of her career.
Against the fierce counter-punching German, Pliskova said she had to try everything in her toolbox to take control of points.
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“I knew that I have the game to beat the best players and now to see that the work pays off, this is actually the best feeling”. It’s gonna just kill me. She explained that her confidence came from knowing exactly what will happen after the final, win or lose, so she could just go out there and play.
