The 28-year-old, however, is expected to cap her new crown with a second grand slam title in NY, to back up her maiden triumph at the Australian Open in January.
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Kerber will take all of that and all her heavy hardware to Monday, when the rankings computer will kick in and list her at No. 1, making her the oldest player – at 28 – to arrive there for the first time.
New No. 1 Kerber eyes revenge against Pliskova in final was posted in Sports of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on September 10, 2016 and was last updated on September 10, 2016.
The 28-year-old has returned the favour in NY as her victory preserves two of Graf’s long-lasting records.
Williams, who refused to answer questions about the rankings, and Graf also share the mark for most Grand Slam titles since 1968, when professionals were first admitted to majors.
“After Australia I had so many things to deal with”, Kerber said.
“To be here in the final for the first time, that means a lot”. “I had so much pressure after the title”.
“If someone is not ready, and she doesn’t think she is ready”, Pliskova said, “she should not go on the court”. Then she addressed Kerber directly, saying: “It was a great match, and I’m very honored to play with you”. Countless times, she was asked whether she ever doubted herself, or doubted her ability to reach number one, or doubted whether she had sufficient weapons.
As a result, she has now pinned her career as the greatest late rise in history.
After 186 weeks at the top of women’s tennis, a semifinal loss to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic saw German Angelique Kerber, who beat Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki in her semifinal, take over.
For Pliskova, it is her first Grand Slam final; which comes after her first Slam semifinal, where she ousted Williams; after her first Slam quarterfinal and her first Slam round of 16, where she beat Venus Williams. Her rivalry with the American may be just beginning.
But Kerber got the break back in the sixth game when Pliskova hit a backhand wide on game point.
“Of course, probably (there are) nerves from both sides”, she said.
“What’s happened in the last two weeks, it’s just incredible”, Kerber said.
Pliskova has now played in her first Grand Slam final – now she needs to get back to one and win it. But the world of tennis was shocked when Pliskova upset the number seed in the world.
The new number one’s readiness was further apparent when she burst into the opening half hour of the final, breaking Pliskova’s serve in the first game and piecing together nearly the flawless set of tennis. Ranked No 11 in the world, she had not previously advanced beyond the third round of a grand slam.
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Her ability to stay on an even keel is hard-won, something she’s learned to do after years of letting her frustrations run away with her cost her matches. I have to be the one who is aggressive. It’s never easy for the player who is attacking and is doing more mistakes.
