Angelique Kerber raced into her maiden Wimbledon title, leaving Serena Williams still waiting to match Margaret Court’s grand slam singles record, with a 6-3, 6-3, straight sets victory at the centre court on Saturday.
It was two hours past the scheduled time when Serena chasing a fairy-tale eighth Wimbledon title hit the first serve. But far from what many anticipated would be a repeat of the final here two years ago, it was the loser that day who looked lively and eventually sealed the victory in an hour and five minutes.
The win was Kerber’s third Grand Slam title – two of which she has now won against Williams – and she also became the first German since Steffi Graf in 1996, to win the Wimbledon title.
Kerber had defeated Williams to win the Australian Open in 2016 and had walked on to her second title at the US Open. But sandwiched between those two victories, was a defeat at the All England Club.
She was World No. 1 in 2016. But soon succumbed under expectations in the next year and here Kerber is again out to prove that she is no one season wonder.
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Up against the favourite Serena, who was into her fourth tournament since the Australian Open victory, Kerber started well.
Her energy and consistency forced the 30-year-old American into long rallies, which in the end had just one outcome – the 11th seed German winning most of them.
Williams who had hit 44 aces enroute to the final, managed just four today as Kerber’s powerful forehand thrusts occasionally passed her racket even before she could react. The 25th seed also played into the German’s hands hitting the net and making several unforced errors.
Stirred by her husband and a flurry of celebrity supporters like Tiger Woods, Lewis Hamilton and Anna Wintour, the 23-time Grand Slam winner forced her way into the match with a sublime volley in the third game of the second set, but again faltered in the very next point.
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In the end those sparks from her came very few and far in between, meaning it was a rather comfortable victory for the soon to be World No. 4.
Despite the defeat, Williams though will take great pride from such performance in 10-months time after returning from a career threatening complications following the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia.