Angelique Kerber beats Serena Williams to win Wimbledon
WEB DESK
In a spectacular show of game, German Angelique Kerber beat seven-time champion Serena Williams to win her first Wimbledon title and spoil the American’s dream.
The German 11th seed, 30, beat the 23-time Grand Slam champion 6-3 6-3 to add this title to her 2016 Australian Open and US Open crowns.
In a final where all the pre-match babble was of Serena Williams’ extraordinary return to winning ways 10 months after the birth of her first child, Kerber was on a quest of her own. Two years ago she was runner-up to Serena on this very stage, but now the game’s ultimate grail belongs to Kerber. With her racket a rapier in her hand, she carved her way to a stunning 6-3, 6-3 victory in a mere 65 minutes.
Williams had been the favourite despite it being only her fourth tournament since giving birth in September.
Kerber dropped to the grass when a netted service return gave her victory.
“It is a dream come true,” said Kerber, who is the first German woman to win the title since Steffi Graf in 1996.
“I know I had to play my best tennis against a champion like Serena. Serena is a great person and a great champion and she is a great inspiration for all of us.”
Williams said she had been happy to simply get to the final so soon into her comeback, adding: “It is obviously a disappointment but I can’t be disappointed. I’m literally getting started.
A touching end to a fantastic tournament#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/EUjeQJJUFa
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
“You cannot measure success if you have never failed.” So said the seven-time Wimbledon champion Steffi Graf; and 22 years after Graf was the last German to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish here, Angelique Kerber reversed once and for all the slump that has engulfed her since her annus mirabilis of 2016.
“It’s a dream come true,” said the 30-year-old, shaking her head at what was clearly still an unbelievable truth. Then she turned to the vanquished American. “Serena, you’re a great person, such an inspiration for all of us playing and everyone watching you. I’m sure you will have your next Grand Slam title soon.