Kerber stuns Serena Williams to win Wimbledon
Angelique Kerber beat seven-time champion Serena Williams to win her first Wimbledon title and spoil the American’s dream comeback as a mum.
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, BBC Sport reported.
Williams had been the favorite 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.
“To the other mums out there I was playing for you today and I tried. But Angelique played really well. I look forward to continuing to be out there and do what I do best.”
Dreams dashed
Williams, like Kerber, had dropped just one set on her way to the final but she had also faced only one player ranked in the top 50 here before Saturday’s showpiece.
Despite her world ranking of 181 and special seeding of 25, she has been the favorite for the title, with pundits and players pointing to the potent combination of her intimidating aura – created by titles, fitness and mental strength – and the fact that her power game is perfectly suited to the fast surface of grass.
However, Kerber did not let her play that game with Williams managing just four aces and hitting 24 unforced errors as the German bided her time and capitalized on the fact her opponent was not quite back to her best 10 months after giving birth to her daughter.
Williams, in fact, hit more than twice as many winners as the German (23-11) but was let down by some rash forehands and below-par net play in front of a packed Centre Court, where her friend the Duchess of Sussex was watching from the Royal Box.
It means her bid for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title must wait until next month’s US Open at least.