Serena Williams in shock loss to Angelique Kerber

Top-ranked Williams, who has won 21 major titles, demolished Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska to book a spot in her seventh Melbourne final where Kerber defied the odds by producing a superb performance to win.

Germany’s Angelique Kerber pulled off a stunning victory to win the Australian Open and dash Serena Williams’ hopes of clinching a record-equalling 22nd grand slam title, writes Tom Allnutt.

She lost in the first round past year here and said again she was “one leg in the plane for Germany” against Doi.

“I was trying to believe my more in myself”, Kerber said in an interview as quoted by Watoday.com.au. But it was Kerber who grabbed a decisive break in the third set as she reeled off a brilliant passing shot on her way to a 2-0 lead. “My whole life I was working really hard and now I’m here I can say I am a Grand Slam champion, it sounds so insane”.

However, Serena recalled a match against Kerber nearly two years ago in which the German shocked the world No. 1 in Cincinnati.

“Let’s see what happens in the next few months”.

And other congratulatory messages poured in.

“I mean, I think my phone is exploding right now”. “It’s so good also for German tennis”.

At deuce, Williams dumped a forehand into the net giving Kerber Championship point, which she converted before dropping.to the floor in stunned disbelief.

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.

A surprise run to her first grand slam final at the US Open in 2011 while ranked 92nd in the world had helped turn it around.

The first British woman to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam since 1983, Konta will be seeded at the French Open if she can remain inside the top 32.

Kerber was not in awe of Williams, although after the match she called her “an inspiration for so many people”. With a huge smile, Williams beamed as she held Kerber. Today, however, she had 46 unforced errors and clearly wasn’t herself all match. I try to win every time I step out there, every single point, but realistically, I can’t do it. Maybe someone else can. After hugging the teary-eyed Williams, Kerber told BBC. “You are a great champion, you are an unbelievable great person so congrats for everything you did already”. “So congratulations to everything you’ve already done”, the German said.

Novak Djokovic is chasing history on Sunday night, aiming to join Roy Emerson as the only six-time Australian Open champion.

The American, however, was gracious in defeat, walking round the net to embrace Kerber after the final point had been won.

Williams was a most courteous loser and was congratulated by the Rod Laver Arena crowd for her sporting comments. “I remember her serving really well and from then on out I’ve been really focused that she’s someone that I and everyone has to take so seriously”, Williams said.