Kerber stuns Williams to win Australian Open title

Angelique Kerber, the seventh seed, stunned world No. 1 Serena Williams in the 2016 Australian Open final, taking her first career Grand Slam title 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Williams, the world number one and defending champion, had won all six previous Melbourne Park finals she had played and had also triumphed in her last eight Grand Slam deciders.

Serena Williams lost the Australian Open final on Saturday in Melbourne, falling 6-4 3-6 6-4 in a thrilling, high-quality match to No. 7, Angelique Kerber.

But Kerber built a 2-0 lead in the third set, and after Williams caught up to 2-all, Kerber raced out to a 5-2 lead.

Serena Williams insists her shock Australian Open defeat had nothing to do with equalling Steffi Graf’s Open-era record 22 grand slam titles.

Kerber, who saved a match point in the first round against Misaki Doi, became the first woman to save a match point during the tournament before going on to win the title since Williams did it in 2003 in her semi-final against Kim Clijsters.

“You are really an inspiration for so many people, so many young tennis players”, Kerber said.

The official tournament program for Sunday said that American Vandeweghe had to do a computer search for Tecau’s name when the Romanian approached her coach to see if she wanted to team up for this tournament – she didn’t know much about his playing pedigree.

The six-time champion responded in the second set, though, hitting 16 winners to just five unforced errors and securing the set’s only break to win the second set and force the year’s first Grand Slam into a deciding third set. “I’m really honored to be in this final and to win it – my dream came true tonight”, she said, fighting back tears of joy.

She added: “Growing up in Germany, we had Steffi there, we had Boris [Becker] there”.

“You know, when I won the first set, when I won against Azarenka, that shows me that I really am a good player and I can show it as well on the big courts”. Beating those two en route to the championship is an impressive feat and one that should keep any thought of this being a fluke win away. “I was surprised and really happy for her”, she said.

“I think I did the best I could today”.

By the time Kerber held for 5-3 and then again to seal the opening set, Williams had racked up 23 mistakes to the underdog’s three. Looking in impeccable shape, she romped through the Brisbane International draw, losing just four games to eventual Australian Open champion Kerber in the final.

Above are the top five women in Grand Slam history. I’m really happy about my game I played. about the two weeks.

In the meantime, root for Serena to win.

“I was trying to stay relaxed until the last point (against Williams)”, she said. This left Williams to lament the concession of her first set in this year’s championships.

Kerber said she enjoyed every second of the match and that Williams probably felt more pressure with everyone expecting her to win and Graf’s record so tantalizingly close.