“I think I did a great job”, she said in her post-match press conference.
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It turned into quite the historic weekend for Kerber, who won her second Grand Slam title of 2016 by fending off No. 10 seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, under extremely hot and humid conditions in Arthur Ashe Stadium. They quickly moved on, however, after being treated to a rare three-set final – only the third since 1999 – that ended dramatically when Kerber broke the serve of the hardest-serving player in the game.
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. And after frittering away her first four break points, she converted her fifth with a lob-volley victor that curled over Kerber and landed right by the baseline. She will treat her team to dinner, have some champagne, too, she said, and then – after a whirlwind media tour of Manhattan on Monday – fly to Germany and take a few minutes on the plane to let it soak in: She is tennis’ top player right now, no questions asked.
“Now I can enjoy it, try to take every single moment with me”.
Never a Grand Slam finalist before 2016, the German beat Williams for the Australian Open title in January, then lost to her in the Wimbledon final in July. And sustained excellence is what Serena Williams has brought to the table in her sport better than anyone before her. “I mean, all the dreams came true this year”. But in the seventh game of the second set, Pliskova’s stab lob volley lofted over Kerber’s head and landed on the baseline, giving her the crucial break that allowed her to even the match. Not just hitting the balls over the net.
Kerber found herself in trouble, behind 3-1.
While Djokovic played a full match and defeated Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund in the fourth round, France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had to retire after the second set.
“When I was a kid I was always dreaming to be the number one player in the world and win grand slams and today is the day I won my second grand slam here, especially in NY”. “Now to see that the work pays off, this is actually the best feeling”.
Kerber was at her counterpunching best and picked her spots to be aggressive against the powerful Pliskova, who wilted late in the third under hot, humid conditions.
“For me it’s really important to go on my own way and to have her in Germany with all the things she did for tennis, it’s just awesome”.
“Being there as champion, this year, to hold this trophy, I can’t say it in words”, Kerber said after her 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over the 10th-seeded Czech. Then began her incredible run.
Kerber said if you believe in your fitness, you believe in yourself. “She doesn’t give you anything”.
“It was just the next step to beat the best players”.
Angelique Kerber of Germany reacts after beating Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark on day eleven of the 2016 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Kerber took advantage of Pliskova’s miscues to open the match with a break.
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“To be number one and win Grand Slam titles was always my dream ever since I was a little girl”, Kerber said. She pulled a linesperson’s chair over to the corner and, with the help of a security guard who cupped her foot and helped her over the barricade, climbed into her players’ box for hugs and squeals. “She deserves to be No. 1 and after years when Serena was there, I think it’s a nice change”.
