By Erik Gudris | Saturday, January 30, 2016

For Angelique Kerber, her dreams of Grand slam glory came true on a memorable night in Melbourne.

The 28-year-old German won her first ever major title by upsetting World No.1 and defending champion Serena Williams in a back and forth three set battle. With the win, Kerber denied Williams’s chance to equal all-time great Steffi Graf’s 22 major singles title record.

More: Kerber’s Match Point to Win AO

“My dream come true tonight,” said an ecstatic Kerber on receiving the trophy. "I had goosebumps. My whole life I've worked hard. To say I am a Grand Slam champion is crazy." 

Kerber, who saved a match point in her opening round, entered her first major final on a wave of confidence. Yet, Williams stepped in as the favorite especially given how she had marched through her earlier rounds without dropping a set. Then there was also that Willams had only lost four times in a major final.

The question would be if Kerber could stay composed and confident while facing Williams across the net.

Earlier on in the first set, Kerber did just that while it was Williams who looked the more unsure of her game. Rattled by Kerber’s trademark backcourt defense, Williams committed several errors by often overhitting. Kerber took an early break and then held for 3-1.

Kerber’s weaker second serve offered up opportunities for the six-time champion to get back in the set. Williams ripped a forehand return winner for 3-all. But still, Williams was often missing shots she made in the earlier rounds. Kerber, though not serving well, kept Williams at bay with sharp angles and by extending the rallies.

Kerber broke again and held on to her lead. The German then took the set 6-4 when Williams netted once again during a long rally.

By now, Williams had racked up 23 unforced errors.

Though Williams did not play her best, a comeback from her in the second set was expected. That happened soon enough when Kerber experienced a letdown on her serve at 1-all. Kerber, with several double faults, fell behind 0-40, Though she saved two break points, Williams finally broke after winning a backcourt exchange.

Williams, incredibly, hit her first ace of the match in the next game to eventually open up a 4-1 lead.

Continuing her momentum, Wililams would eventually wrap up the set 6-3 thanks to strong serving on her part.

Williams entered the final set having not lost a third set in eight previous major finals.

The final set opened again with several questions for each player to answer. How would Kerber respond now that Williams was now level with her? For Williams, chasing more elite tennis history, would she start showing the imperious form she displayed earlier in the event?

If Williams wanted to do that, Kerber’s continued defensive resistance wouldn’t let her.

After holding serve, Kerber tested Williams’ ability to finish off points with winners. Kerber chased down several would-be winners, including a smash, before creating a winner of her own to the roar of Rod Laver Arena. Kerber then broke Williams at love for 2-0.

But Kerber’s thrill would be short lived as she again couldn’t back it up with her serve. Williams ripped a massive return off a short Kerber second serve to get the break back for 2-1. Now back on serve, many expected Williams to potentially run away with the match.

Yet, Williams still remained tentative at times, especially up at net. Though she came to net 32 times in the match, often she found herself on the losing end. Either Kerber hit a sharp angled cross court pass or Williams would net the volley. Williams proved unable to rise to a higher level in order to finally put distance between her and Kerber.

The key game came at 3-2 that turned into a over ten minute test for both players.

Williams fell behind 15-40 on her serve, but pulled back to deuce. Though each player looked tight, they also produced several stunning winners. That included two perfect drop shots from Kerber. Williams could not close out the game. Another double fault set up a break point for Kerber who converted when Williams over hit again.

Kerber raced through her next service game for 5-2. Williams, by holding serve herself, put the pressure back on Kerber at 5-3. Kerber would not close it out though. Williams, with two penetrating returns, eventually broke again for 5-4.

If the expectation was that Kerber would wilt with her chance to serve out the title gone, the German instead remained calm.

Williams continued leaking errors at the wrong moments as she now served to stay in the match. But the top seed also found winners when she needed them.

Down 0-30, Williams cracked an ace then hit a sweeping crosscourt backhand winner to get back to 30-all. Though she held 40-30, her own second serve proved too easy for Kerber to hit a return winner. Another crosscourt rally ended with Williams hitting into the net giving Kerber her first match point.

She would only need the one. A final exchange ended with yet another ill-fated foray from Williams into the net. She struck her volley just over the baseline. With that, Kerber collapsed to the court in victory as she claimed the title 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Both women shared an embrace and congratulatory words with each other just after. Williams congratulated Kerber again during the trophy ceremony.

"Congratulations Angie, you were the best player this tournament. I really hope you enjoy this moment. You truly deserve it.” a smiling Williams told Kerber.

When asked if playing in a great final made it easier to digest the loss, Williams later said, “I mean, every time I walk in this room, everyone expects me to win every single match, every single day of my life. As much as I would like to be a robot, I'm not. I try to. But, you know, I do the best that I can. I try to win every single time I step out there, every single point, but realistically I can't do it. Maybe someone else can, but I wasn't able to do it.”

Williams will be left to ponder what might have been as she once again finds herself just short of another Grand Slam record.

For Kerber, her incredible two weeks culminated in her first ever Grand Slam title and will also boost her to a career high No. 2 in the world.


The new victory gives Kerber the feeling that this could be the second start to her career.

“The second, yeah, maybe. Maybe it's the second. I think someday here it click again like in New York few years ago where I reached the semis for my first time. Here it was like that I was try to believe much more in myself. 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. You know, I was not playing very good last year on the big tournaments. This is the first big tournament of the year, and I won it, the first Grand Slam. It sounds crazy, but I can say I'm a Grand Slam champion now.”