Kerber was playing the first Grand Slam final of her career and had lost all the four meetings with Williams in straight sets.
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Angelique Kerber swims in the Yarra River to celebrate her breakthrough Grand Slam win in the Australian Open Saturday where she stunned world No. 1 Serena Williams, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. But it was Kerber who grabbed a decisive break in the third set as she reeled off a brilliant passing shot on her way to a 2-0 lead. The sixth-ranked Kerber, 28, took defending champion and world No. 1 Serena Williams, 34, to the cleaners, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Kerber not only walks away with her first major, but she’s just the second German woman in the Open Era to win a major, after Steffi Graf, who won 22 majors in her legendary career. “My whole life I was working really hard and now I’m here and I can say I’m a Grand Slam champion, so it sounds really insane”, she said, choking back tears. She also had early exits at the French Open (lost to Garbine Muguruza in the third round, 4-6 6-2 6-2), Wimbledon (lost to Muguruza in the third round, 7-6(12) 1-6 6-2), and US Open (lost to Azarenka in the third round, 7-5 2-6 6-4).
Serena Williams of the United States reacts after winning a point against Angelique Kerber of Germany during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016.
That resulted in unforced errors, something Williams had not been forced to do through her run to a seventh Australian Open final.
She had never gone beyond the semis at a major before but with a Grand Slam title now next to her name, she said it felt like a new chapter had begun.
Williams overshot a forehand volley on match point, sending Kerber sprawling to the ground in tears.
Williams looked nervous and tense at times, her feet occasionally looking like their were stuck to the court and in the end, too many unforced errors cost her dear, while Kerber consistently made her play one extra ball and crucially, believed she could win.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was quick to respond, saying “It was fascinating to see how courageously and with such nerves of steel how you prevailed against arguably the best player in the world”. “Enjoy the moment. I’m so happy for you”.
Kerber broke her twice to wrap up the set before Williams regrouped to send the match into a decider, accompanied by screams of “C’mon!”
“To win it, it’s my dream come true tonight”. I think maybe in the past I didn’t as much.
The response after defeat was a far cry from the player who was once booed by fans at the 2009 U.S. Open after a heated exchange with a line umpire for which she was given a suspended ban and ordered to pay half of a $175,000 fine.
“I was actually really happy for her. She’s been around a really long time”.
“I had really insane two weeks”, Kerber said. I was going out there, trying, OK I can beat her; I beat her once.
Meanwhile, Williams had nothing but praise for Kerber and said her win was a testament to her positive attitude and was vindication for years of effort.
“Angie, congratulations. You really deserved it – let me be the first to congratulate you”, Williams said.
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Kerber’s victory also painted a large target on her back by proving that Williams was not invincible, though she was quick to acknowledge the American’s powers were not on the wane.
