Australian Open Final Highlights - Serena Williams v Angelique Kerber: Kerber Wins Her Maiden Grand Slam Title, Pips Serena In Epic Three-Set Final
Angelique Kerber created history as she defeated top seed Serena Williams in the final of the Australian Open in an epic three-set match. Relive all the magical moments here.
Angelique Kerber stunned the tennis world by defeating world number one Serena Williams in a thrilling three-set match to secure her first Grand Slam Title. Serena Williams, who was aiming for her seventh Australian Open title and her 22nd Grand Slam, was thwarted in the final as she committed too many unforced errors. Relive all the moments here (News | Photos):
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16:39 hrs IST: Serena: It was a great match. Angelique deserved to win this match and I hope she enjoys this moment.
Kerber: Serena is an inspiration for so many tennis players. She has achieved so many things. I have worked hard for this win. Being a Grand Slam champion is crazy. I took my chances and my dream of winning a Grand Slam has come true.
16:20 hrs IST: Kerber has done it! What a moment for the German seventh seed. She breaks Serena when the American lands her forehand wide and she wins the final 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. She seals her first Australian Open and she sinks to her knees to soak in the moment. Serena comes up and hugs her. Good spirit.
16:15 hrs IST: The match has now gone past two hours. It has been a thrilling match with both playing some high quality tennis. The fans at the Rod Laver Arena have been treated to some thrilling action.
16:14 hrs IST: Serena will not go down without a fight. Kerber squanders her opportunity to serve for the championship as she hits her forehand long. The champion is staying alive. Serena 4, Kerber 5.
16:10 hrs IST: Serena manages to hold serve but Kerber gives her a tough fight. It will be the German who will be serving for the championship. Serena 3, Kerber 5.
16:05 hrs IST: Kerber holds her serve to love to surge ahead. Serena 2, Kerber 5.
16:03 hrs IST: After close to 15 minutes, the game is decided. Serena commits another double fault to face break point. This time Kerber holds her nerve and Serena sails a forehand wide to give her the break. Serena 2, Kerber 4.
16:01 hrs IST: The sixth game has gone on for more than 10 minutes now. Kerber uses the drop shot to great affect and once again it is deuce. The fifth of the game.
15:59 hrs IST: The sixth game is proving to be tennis of the highest quality. Serena is facing break point but she responds with an ace but Kerber continues to put pressure. Third deuce in this game.
15:54 hrs IST: Brilliant point from Serena. Down 15-40, both players trade forehands but the American once again makes Kerber run from both sides of the court. In the end, after seven rallies, Serena gets her forehand down the left side to get it to 30-40. Next point, she gets to deuce with an ace.
15:49 hrs IST: One error at the net and a backhand error costs Serena as Kerber closes the game with a wide serve that is impossible to handle for the American. Serena 2, Kerber 3.
15:48 hrs IST: Two crunching forehands from Serena and is 30-30. Can she break at this vital time?
15:46 hrs IST: Serena's serve proves to be her trump. Two wide serves, combined with a wonderful backhand and an ace, her fourth, gets her back on level terms. Serena 2, Kerber 2.
15:44 hrs IST: Amazing start to the fourth game. Serena continues to make Kerber run from court to court but the German has the last laugh. Serena fails to convert the forehand and Kerber responds with an amazing cross-court backhand.
15:41 hrs IST: Kerber put under pressure at 0-30 but she responds with her fourth ace. However, at 30-40, the German hits a forehand long and Serena shouts Come On to break her back. Serena 1, Kerber 2. This final set has seen so much fluctuation.
15:38 hrs IST: Brilliant tennis from Kerber. Serena makes an error at the net to go 0-30 down. Kerber defends brilliantly and counters Serena's smash and wins the point with a crunching forehand down the line. She seals the game with another forehand rally to extend her lead. Serena 0, Kerber 2.
15:34 hrs IST: Strong start for Kerber in the third set. Serena uses the angle well to sink a forehand cross-court which draws Kerber's applause but the German seals the game with a strong forehand down the right side. Serena 0, Kerber 1.
15:31 hrs IST: Serena is all focus as Kerber takes a small break. During that period, she was focused. One could see it in her eyes. She really wants to win this title. However, both players on even terms.
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15:26 hrs IST: After serving a double fault, Serena serves her third ace and has set point. Kerber nets her forehand and the American wins the second set 6-3. The match is on.
15:23 hrs IST: Serena wins a challenge on the first point but Kerber keeps her composure. She serves her third ace and holds serve. However, Serena will be serving for the second set. Serena 5, Kerber 3.
15:18 hrs IST: Serena serves her second ace but she also commits her second double fault. A couple of unforced errors follow but she wins the game by charging towards the net and volleying her backhand in. Serena 5, Kerber 2.
15:15 hrs IST: Kerber's serve comes under pressure and she is down 0-30. However, she bounces back and she seals the game with a wide serve. Serena 4, Kerber 2.
15:11 hrs IST: Brilliant use of the angles by both Kerber and Serena. The seventh seed goes 0-30 up but Serena serves her first ace of the match and holds her serve to extend her advantage. Serena 4, Kerber 1.
15:08 hrs IST: Disastrous game for Kerber. She commits two double faults and goes 0-40 down. Kerber manages to save two break points but Kerber gets her forehand long and the game goes to Serena. Vital break for her. Serena 3, Kerber 1.
15:04 hrs IST: Serena is using her forehand with much more assurance in this set and she holds her serve again. She has eight forehand winners so far but her unforced errors count is too high. Serena 2, Kerber 1.
15:01 hrs IST: Serena gets her forehand right but Kerber holds her nerve by serving her second ace of the match. Serena 1, Kerber 1.
14:57 hrs IST: Good start for Serena in the second set. She holds her serve to go 1-0 up.
14:53 hrs IST: Kerber wins the first set 6-4. Serena continues to commit errors on her forehand as well as at the net. The top seed has lost a set for the first time in this edition of the tournament.
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14:49 hrs IST: Contrasting start to the ninth game. Serena misses yet another full forehand smash and she is gutted. She points it out to her team in the stands. Next two points, she plays aggressively and wins to let out loud cheers of emotion. Kerber commits a forehand error at 40-40 to hand Serena the game. The German will be serving for the set. Serena 4, Kerber 5.
14:45 hrs IST: The unforced errors are piling up for Serena and this is proving to be costly. She fails to keep her forehand in on two occasions. Kerber holds. Serena 3, Kerber 5.
14:41 hrs IST: Serena's serve comes under pressure again. Both players use the angles well but Kerber holds her nerve to go 30-40 up. However, another Serena error gives Kerber her second break. Serena 3, Kerber 4.
14:37 hrs IST: Kerber is being put under pressure on her second set. Serena crunches a forehand and shouts 'Come On' to break Kerber and draw level. Serena 3, Kerber 3.
14:35 hrs IST: So far in the first set, Serena has committed six unforced errors to Kerber's 1. Deuce in the sixth game.
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14:31 hrs IST: Serena survives some testing moments to hold her serve. Still too many errors from the Serena forehand. Serena 2, Kerber 3.
14:29 hrs IST: Serena is really pumped up now. She goes down 0-30 but wins the next three points with some aggressive tennis. She lets out an emotional 'Come On' with each point. However, another unforced error and it is deuce.
14:25 hrs IST: Kerber holds her serve. Serena committing too many errors on the forehand. Kerber finishes the game with a smash. Serena 1, Kerber 3.
14:21 hrs IST: Game on in the final! Fantastic work from Kerber. She uses the angle well for her backhand and she puts Serena under pressure. She is up 15-40 and an unforced error gives her the break. Serena 1, Kerber 2.
14:18 hrs IST: Kerber manages to hold her serve. After a double fault which led her being 15-30 down, she nails an ace and her first serve to win the game. Serena 1, Kerber 1.
14:15 hrs IST: Perfect first game for Serena. Gets her serve right and wins the first game with ease. Serena 1, Kerber 0.
14:08 hrs IST: Serena has not lost a single set in this edition of the tournament. On current form, she looks unstopabble.
14:04 hrs IST: Kerber has won the toss of the coin but Serena will be serving in this all-important final.
13:58 hrs IST: There is a fair amount of support for Angelique Kerber. This is a vital final for the German, who is making her maiden appearance in the Grand Slam. If Serena wins today, she will equal Steffi Graf's record of 22 Grand Slam titles.
13:56 hrs IST: Evonne Goolagong, an Australian Tennis legend, came out and displayed the Women's Trophy to rapturous cheers at the Rod Laver Arena.
13:50 hrs IST: It is time for the final between Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber. However, before that, there is a ceremony where the Women's Trophy will be showcased at the Rod Laver Arena. The Australian national anthem is also being played.
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World No. 1 Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber will be engaged in a battle similar to David and Goliath. Serena is aiming for a seventh Australian Open crown and her 22nd Grand Slam. At the moment, there is no stopping Serena. However, Kerber is no mere pushover as she has shown from the early stages of the tournament. (Serena Williams Aims for History At Australian Open)
Serena has a 5-1 record against the German and has won the last four encounters. Kerber's only victory against the American was in Cincinnati in 2012. A win for Serena brings her level with Steffi Graff's record of 22 Grand Slam titles in the open era. However, should Kerber be able to pull off a major upset, it will be her first Slam and this will arguably be her greatest win ever. (Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams Scale New Heights)
Serena Williams' Dominant Form
Top seed Serena Williams put up a magnificent display against fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska as she thrashed her 6-0, 6-4 to reach the final of the Australian Open for the seventh time.
The first set was no contest, over in 20 minutes. Williams hit 18 winners and Radwanska, in her fifth major semifinal, had one - in the fourth game.
The second set was closer, with Radwanska holding serve three times and breaking Serena's powerful serve once. But the 34-year-old Williams lifted again to finish it off, winning the last eight points of the match and closing with three aces and a big forehand winner.
With the win, Serena reached her seventh Australia Open final. In six previous instances when she reached the final in Melbourne, she has gone on to win the title.
Despite her 21 major titles and all her success, it is a loss that is inspiring Williams in this tournament. She was two wins away from a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2015 when she lost to Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals.
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Aim at History
Although Serena is favorite to win the title, Kerber will be determined to upset the number one seed. The seventh seed has displayed grit and power in her wins and during her win against Johanna Konta, she displayed her versatility. In her first final, she will have to face the odds but she will be determined to put up a fight. (Read More)