“All the dreams came true this year”, Kerber said. But as Kerber was dragged deep into her forehand corner, the German saw the light in the form of a small gap down the line.
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“She has more experience to play those finals than me so that probably decided this match”, Pliskova said. After holding serve on the opening game, she had a double break opportunity and managed to earn the break on her second attempt.
Kerber said improving her fitness laid the foundation.
“In Cincinnati, I knew Angie. kind of felt some pressure there”, said Pliskova. I know she has a big serve. She broke back to tie at 3-3 as Pliskova sprayed a backhand wide and that became a pattern as she lost her stamina.
“I hope I didn’t stop yet, that there is still one more step to go”.
Long regarded as a top defensive player, Kerber reaped the benefits of her makeover in the very first major of the year, reaching the Australian Open final and beating Serena Williams for her maiden major.
That comes against Pliskova, who never had been past the third round in 17 previous major appearances but became only the fourth woman to beat both Williams sisters during one Grand Slam tournament.
The new rankings will be released on Monday. Her late career resurgence is a surprise to many, but she will have all the confidence in the world going forward.
Kerber is the first woman from Germany to win the U.S. Open – and the first to get to No. 1 – since her idol and mentor, Steffi Graf, who got in touch via text message before the final. “I knew I have the game to beat the best players and just being patient and working really hard”.
Kerber, the vanquisher of Serena Williams at the Australian Open, faces Karolina Pliskova at 4 p.m. ET.
Kerber’s loss of the second set was the first time the entire championship that she had dropped a set. With Kerber, it was striking how quickly she shut down the notion of doubt.
“And to be number one, of course now everybody will try to beat me and have nothing to lose”.
“Here I have one day off tomorrow, so I can really prepare for the final against Pliskova”. She also double faulted twice. Before 2016, her four years as a fixture at the top of her game had brought her to three significant finals, just beneath the slams, and she had lost each one.
Newly minted world number one tennis star Angelique Kerber has miles to go before she consolidates her position.
And after frittering away her first four break points of the match, she converted her fifth with a lob-volley victor. By the conclusion of the 2-hour, 7-minute final, Pliskova totalled 47 unforced errors, 30 more than Kerber. In fact, she made 13 of 14 shots at the net in the second set.
“It means so much to me”. Angelique Kerber, at 28 years old, capped her spectacular Grand Slam season by winning the US Open – seven months after snaring the Aussie trophy.
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“It’s just fantastic”, a beaming Kerber, told an adoring crowd after being handed the winner’s cheque of $3.5 million.
