Serena Williams was upset by Angelique Kerber in todays final of the Australian Open and once again missed a chance to tie Steffi Grafs Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles.
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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 the American committed 23 errors in the opening set and Kerber was able to break her serve twice, going on to win the opening set 6-4.
The 28-year-old Kerber used acute angles to keep Williams guessing, tossed in two drop shots for a crucial break in the long sixth game of the third set, and continually tried to pass the 21-time major victor or forced errors at the net.
Lindsay Davenport notched the final Grand Slam of her career in 2000 when she beat Martina Hingis 6-1, 7-5 in 2000.
Williams, who has won six Australian Opens, also praised Kerber on her win describing the final as a “really good, really intense match”. Of Kerber she said: “She played so well”.
“I was happy that I won the first set because it was better to win against her the first set than the second set”, she added. To win it is my dream come true. So, honestly, she’s a really good girl.
Kerber’s serving was a huge key. Is there a long time and she has an attitude which many could learn, that is to say, stay positive and always persevere.
With the signature victory, Kerber could lose the underdog label, as she will vault her to the No. 2 in the world rankings, trailing only Williams.
“I think sometimes I am really not easy but I have the best family and the best team in the world…”
“I want to be the first to congratulate you, Williams told him on the ground afterwards”. “I was really focusing”. Graf is now 46 and has kept a mostly low-profile since retiring in 1999, preferring not to join the so-called Legends matches that former pros play at Grand Slams.
Rattled, Williams began cleaning up her act to hold serve in the first game of the second set.
Over the course of the two-week tournament, Graf’s name has come up repeatedly in both Kerber’s and Williams’ post-match news conferences.
“We’ve seen it before when Serena gets nervous”, she said.
“I don’t know how many messages I get”.
She can also expect a warm reception from her home country after she became the first German since her childhood idol Steffi Graf to clinch a grand slam, prompting congratulations from sportspeople and the country’s President Angela Merkel.
Losing in back-to-back slams is not characteristic of the ever dominant Williams but she reminds everyone that she is only human.
“The best two weeks of my life, of my career, was here”.
“I think Serena’s really a champion”, Kerber said.
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Williams made clear during the tournament she was trying not to think about Graf’s record, but she denied that nerves about equalling the milestone played a part in her defeat. Kerber called the gesture the sign of a great champion.
