“Kerber is also looking to reach number one in the world in the future, although she admits that she is still some way from achieving that goal, with Williams now ranked as the best player in woman’s game”.
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Kerber had beaten Williams in the Australian Open final this year, inadvertently protecting her idol and fellow German’s record.
Kerber, in her first Wimbledon final and second major title match, was moving Williams into awkward positions with her left-handed ground-strokes. She played really well and every single point I really had to work for and nothing was given to me so it made for a really good match.
After she punched the clinching volley to a spot unreachable by Kerber, Williams tossed up her racket, raised her arms and allowed herself to tumble back onto the grass, lying there for several moments in a mixture of exhaustion and elation.
“It’s been incredibly hard not to think about it”, Williams said about win No. 22 during an on-court interview after the match.
34-287 Age in years and days, breaking the record for oldest woman to win a Grand Slam title that she set last year at Wimbledon (33 years, 289 days). “But I know how to get here, and I will hope that I will get one day the chance to play another final here”.
When a Queen turns up for a Queen, you kinda know it’s going to be a victorious day-and yesterday [Saturday, July 9] was because Serena Williams earned her 22nd Glam Slam title. She’s had a few losses this past year, which she freely admits damaged her confidence in making the big 22.
“I would obviously like to keep it up for as long as I’m still out here playing professional tennis”, she said. Even British Royalty saluted the tennis player, with Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton appearing in a video posted by Williams on her Snapchat account.
Kerber, however, said that she was no less and played on a really high level in the finals.
“Played a good match”, Kerber said.
“You can find lots of terrific physical athletes – you can find tons – but if they don’t have it emotionally and mentally they’re not going to make it. She hates losing and I love that fact: that’s what makes her so great”. They are now 14-0 in major doubles finals.
“Time heals”, said Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.
“Thanks you guys for being out here to see number 22, this is awesome”, she said to an appreciative crowd who were treated to a one hour 21 minute final full of absorbing rallies.
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When reminded the talk now will be about equaling or surpassing Court’s 24 major wins, Williams shook her head. “I’m definitely going to enjoy this”. After dropping that tiebreaker, Williams sat in her sideline chair and proceeded to smack her racket repeatedly against the grass, before flinging the equipment so far behind her that it landed in the lap of a TV cameraman.
