Angelique Kerber of Germany wins her first ever Grand Slam in the 2016 Australian Open , denying the world No 1 her seventh crown in Melbourne and the chance to pull level with Steffi Graf on 22 grand slam victories. She beat Serena Williams in Women’s Australian Open with 6-4 3-6 6-4.
According to the UK Guardian Kerber, seeded seventh, won 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in two hours and eight minutes in front of an incredulous audience on Rod Laver Arena. It was the American’s 26th appearance in a slam final, the German’s first.
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. Williams remains one slam victory short of Graf’s Open Era record tally of 22. If Kerber does not win another major, she will not forget this achievement, and this performance.
Williams took defeat with the best of humour, although she had betrayed anxiety all the way through a fractious match. “I’m glad you had a chance to witness some great tennis,” she told the crowd. “You truly deserve it,” she told the winner, adding, “It was remarkably fun.” The latter sentiment was hard to believe.
Angelique Kerber, who moves to No2, is the first German to win this title since Graf in 1994. “Congratulations to Serena,” Angelique Kerber, welling up, said on the podium. “You are an inspiration to so many, an unbelievably great person. I was [almost]
on the plane to Germany in the first match. I took my chance to be in the final, and I’m honoured. It’s my dream come true. Now I can say I’m a grand slam champion, and it sounds really crazy.”
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