Kerber Shocks Serena to Win Australian Open

In a huge upset, the seventh seed toppled the 34-year-old 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to win her maiden major title and become the first German Grand Slam champion since Graf at the 1999 French Open.

Williams was stunned at the end of last year’s major season when unseeded Roberta Vinci ended her chance at winning a calendar-year Grand Slam in the semifinals of the U.S. Open.

“Fantastic gesture after match point and such kind words – a great champion, @serenawilliams!”, Manchester United and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Twitter.

Williams opened with an impressive service game, without dropping a point, but left-hander Kerber held her ground and then broke for a 2-1 lead.

“Every time I walk in this room, everyone expects me to win every single match, every single day of my life”, Williams said. Right now the Germans are on the right path to make tennis more popular again – with the grand slam title from me and we have so many good players. “I don’t know why you’re here taking photos”. She broke again in the seventh game as Williams’ unforced error count rose.

Angelique Kerber was down to match point against Misaki Doi in the second set, until she found her form, roared back, and took the second and third sets.

Ultimately, I do think Williams will hoist another trophy up as a Grand Slam champion, bringing her total to 22 to tie Steffi Graf.

Somewhere in Las Vegas, Graf would doubtless have been cheering her on and Germany’s greatest ever player, who had been in contact with Kerber throughout the event, wishing her well, sent her a congratulatory text soon after.

“For sure, I think it’s good to know that if I want to win some tournaments, I have to play better”, she said.

“I didn’t think she would win it, but as soon as [Victoria] Azarenka lost I thought it was Serena’s, but hats off to the German”.

Top seed Williams came into the match as heavy favourite and had also won the last four meetings between the two without dropping a set, but the American made 20 unforced errors in a wobbly opening set. It was the second time in as many majors that Williams seemed to let her nerves get the best of her in a finals.

“It’s been a tough few weeks for me away from the court”, Murray said, thanking his support team before turning his attention to his wife, Kim. “Every time I got a little ahead on the scoreboard she was constantly there”. Savor the moment. I’m really happy for you.

However, Serena recalled a match against Kerber nearly two years ago in which the German shocked the world No. 1 in Cincinnati. I’m not the easiest person sometimes. Williams took the rest of the season off to rest niggling injuries and deal with the disappointment of missing the grand slam achievement.

When Williams was younger, she was known for being surly in defeat and she rarely gave her opponents credit when they beat her. But anyone who follows tennis closely knows that she has become much more gracious throughout the years.

The elated Kerber, who lives in Poland, said she was proud of finally fulfilling the belief of family and friends that she could reach the pinnacle.