Kerber faces familiar foe in championship bid

ANGELIQUE Kerber is not the least bit surprised Serena Williams once again stands between her and a coveted Wimbledon crown.

Kerber and Williams will clash in a sequel to their 2016 championship decider after both former world No. 1s completed stirring comebacks to the grand slam final stage.

Kerber is striving to banish the memories of a forgettable 2017 season with a third career major to go with her 2016 Australian and US Open triumphs, while Williams is eyeing an alltime record-equalling 24th grand slam singles title.

“She’s a fighter. She’s a champion,” the German said of Williams after taming misfiring Latvian 12th seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3.

“She’s playing like she played the years before where she won the big matches.”

But Kerber’s semi-final victory, for the loss of only six games — just like Williams’s 6-2, 6-4 semi-final success over Julia Goerges — was equally commanding, and took two minutes less.

Kerber struck just 10 winners to Ostapenko’s 30, but that was more than enough as Kerber’s experience and patient waiting game paid rich dividends as her opponent sprayed the court with 36 unforced errors.

“It’s such a great feeling to be back in the final and to play on the centre court is always a great feeling,” Kerber said.

“I’m really proud to be back in a grand slam final. It is the match I was working towards as a young kid.”