Undeterred, the underdog retained her cool to break Williams to love and surge to a 2-0 lead with a flurry of explosive forehand winners.
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Born in Germany to Polish parents, Kerber has been a model of consistency throughout the tournament with her win set to propel her to number two in the world behind Williams, from her current six.
The German got five broken, one more than her rival.
Top-seeded Serena Williams was stunned by seventh-seeded Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open final. Williams’ normal dominant serve wasn’t a factor in Saturday’s final, as Kerber won more first serve points then the all-time great.
The German had expressed similar sentiments during her victory speech, with Williams the first person she thanked.
Watching Kerber methodically dismantle the best player in the world since her own compatriot, Steffi Graf, it was incomprehensible that Kerber might have fallen at the first hurdle to Doi, a player of towering anonymity, 11 days and six wins ago.
In the sixth game of the third set, which went over 10 minutes, she was a game point down and produced a attractive backhand drop shot from the baseline that drew roars and applause.
The three-set boilover was not only Williams’ first defeat in seven title matches at Melbourne Park, but also denied the American a place alongside Graf as the most successful women’s player in nearly half a century of professional tennis.
Williams hit 46 unforced errors – more than double her second highest tally in the tournament – and was broken five times. “I got my second chance, and this is my dream come true”, said Kerber, via ESPN.
“It’s interesting. I mean, every time I walk in this room, everyone expects me to win every single match, every single day of my life”, she said at her post-match press conference. If Kerber does not win another major, she will not forget this achievement, and this performance.
“My phone is exploding right now”, said Kerber, who will rise to second in the rankings. There is equal testimony to Kerber playing the match of her life and demonstrating tenacity.
Her hopes of pulling off a rare calendar grand slam were left in tatters once again, only four months after they were crushed in the U.S. Open semifinals by Italian Roberta Vinci.
The 28-year-old said she went into the match with a plan to stay aggressive and work Williams’ weaknesses.
“I think it’s so good also for Germany, for German tennis”.
Williams took defeat with the best of humour, although she had betrayed anxiety all the way through a fractious match. A delicate drop shot and a lightning serve allowed her to hold for 2-3. I try to really enjoy every moment, what’s happened right now, taking all the experience with me. It’s hard enough to contest a slam title match, but it’s infinitely more of an event when standing in the shadow of Serena Williams. It should be Kerber’s story and Kerber’s only because over the past year, Kerber has talked of changing her style. Just as she was too steady for the British No1 Johanna Konta in their semi-final, so she stuck rigidly to her game plan against the best player in the world.
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At 5-2 up in the third, it looked to be a formality for Kerber, but the 21-time Grand Slam champion in Williams managed to force a break and then display a strong hold to threaten a late revival.
