Amidst the disappointment she was looking forward to building on her breakthrough Slam performance.
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Kerber, 28, won in NY to add the US Open to her victory at the Australian Open in January, BBC reported.
Wawrinka, the 31-year-old third seed, triumphed 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 7-5 6-3 after nearly four hours of high intensity tennis. “You know, you have to believe in your dreams”, she said.
“This what’s happened in the last two weeks, it’s just incredible”.
Kerber’s stellar defense put pressure on Pliskova to go after big shots, and the 24-year-old Czech made just enough errors to decide that match.
Flat on her back on court inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, Angelique Kerber had answered all of the questions asked of her during her three-week stay in New York: She was the new No. 1 tennis player in the world – and, in this moment -the 2016 U.S. Open champion. By the conclusion of the 2-hour, 7-minute final, Pliskova totaled 47 unforced errors, 30 more than Kerber.
It was Pliskova who guaranteed Kerber’s ascension in the rankings by beating Williams in the semifinals, ending her streak of 186 consecutive weeks at the top, which began in February 2013 and equaled Graf’s mark. “This Grand Slam is really, really special”.
That season, Kerber had lost her opening match at five straight events during one stretch and 10 times overall – including the year’s first three Grand Slams. Either way, the decision worked: Pliskova double-faulted on the match’s first point and got broken from the get-go. Kerber recommitted herself to her fitness and developed power – particularly on the forehand side – that elevated her game beyond garden-variety counterpunching. Both matches were against Williams. “If she’s a break down, she never gives up”. She shocked Serena Williams in the Australian Open in January, then was runner up to the American at Wimbledon in July.
It means Kerber has a realistic chance of hoisting more grand slam trophies in the future but she insists Williams is still the player to beat.
“To be here with my second trophy, it’s just the best feeling ever”, Kerber said.
“I was really trying to improve a lot of things”, she explained following her 6-3 4-6 6-4 triumph after falling a break down in the third set.
Kerber took the lead in the first set.
But the 29-year-old Serb finished runner-up in NY for the fourth time after paying a heavy price for converting just three of 17 break points.
Kerber, who is taking over the No. 1 ranking for the first time, is in her third major final of the year, while this is the first of Pliskova’s career.
Kerber collapsed to the ground in elation, becoming the first German since Steffi Graf to win the US Open title. She is a great person and a great champion.
Kerber not only won the title but she will now rise up to the first ranking on Monday. But it was interesting to watch – just in a different way than Williams’ extraordinary run to three of the four Slam titles past year.
“I heard from her yesterday or like two days ago”, said Kerber.
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“I’m starting to move out of the shadows a little bit”, said Jamie.
