By Louise Belcourt
Angelique Kerber has channelled her fellow countrywoman and the greatest grand slam winner of all time Steffi Graf, to deny the world number one Serena Williams her 22nd grand slam title. Winning her maiden grand slam 6-4 3-6 6-4.
No one could have believed the match that entailed.
The crowd was stunned after 28 year old Kerber took the first set of the Australian Open final 6-4 against world number one Serena Williams. An unusually emotionally and upset Williams had 20 unforced errors to Kerber’s 3 in the first set.
Was the US Open on her mind? So many erratic shots, her footwork sluggish, her serving average, her face strained by numerous errors. The German world number 7, was cool and composed for her first ever grand slam final. She stood her ground, she chased every ball, and believed in herself. But there was a long way to go.
In the second set Williams reduced her unforced errors, and started making her shots, easily reading Kerber’s serve, to win the second set 6-3. An emotional Williams from the first set started to settle, she was back where she had been so many times before. More relaxed in control, good footwork, with minimal errors.
We were into a 3rd set.
Could the grand slam debutant stop Williams becoming the equal most decorated grand slam winner? No one had ever beaten Williams in a grand slam over 3 sets. No one had beaten Williams in a grand slam final since Sam Stosur beat her in the US Open in 2011.
In the 3rd set, Kerber lifted her game again, chasing down every ball and used her left handed forehand down the line to perfection. She broke Williams to go up 2-0. Williams picked up her receiving game and broke back straight away. Screams of frustration from the world number one.
“I cannot put the ball awayâ€, she screamed at her player box in the 3rd set.
At 2-3 with Williams serving the longest and most critical game of the match was played. Kerber played two incredible drop shot winners, and Williams served an unprecedented 5th double fault. Then after an 11 minutes duel Williams hits a forehand long to give Kerber the break and inch closer to her first ever grand slam title.
An easy hold by Kerber increased her unbelievable lead to 5-2. Her focus, determination and belief was telling. Williams held her serve to stay in the tournament 5-3. Kerber started off serving for the championship with 2 tense unforced errors, and with some Williams’s strong returns and winners she broke to be back on serve 5-4.
Williams normally best shot, her serve, was not at its best level tonight, so it gave Kerber hope. Two backhand errors gave Kerber two points to the title. An ace by Williams and two strong forehand winners, showed what a champion she is. But not for long, another long rally with Kerber chasing every ball and Williams shot in the net. Match point to the underdog. A forehand long by Williams, and Kerber to her knees.
What a fight. What a match. What a champion – Angelique Kerber.
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Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2016 at 8:03 am
Tennis and sport at it’s very best – incredible display of class by both – Serena so genuinely happy for Kerber – nobody ever showed such class on the losing end of a GS final like Serena does – so happy for her conqueror – very touching final – wow — (add on: Djokovic was very happy for Stan at FO last year – that example ranks with these two displays of happy for the winner by the loser )
Louise Belcourt · January 30, 2016 at 9:16 am
Yes I thoroughly enjoyed that quality final! I think one of my favorites.
Even more so how Serena handled herself after the loss.
In her press Serena said “She played so well today. She had an attitude that I think a lot of people can learn from: just to always stay positive and to never give up.I was really inspired by that. So, honestly, she’s a really good girl. If I couldn’t win, I’m happy she did.”
All credit to Kerber for being so focused, believing in herself and fighting for every point.
catherine bell · January 30, 2016 at 9:36 am
Agree- tense if topsy turvey final and obviously genuine feelings expressed by both.
Also – wonder if SW might feel a certain relief about starting the year without the GS expectation hung round her neck like a dead weight…she can play with a lighter heart in the spring/summer.
Bet someone in Las Vegas has a wry smile on her face.
Andrew Miller · January 30, 2016 at 11:42 am
Called it! Great report by Md. Belcourt.
Andrew Miller · January 30, 2016 at 12:46 pm
Serena Williams was truly complimentary of Kerber – she must like her a lot. She paid the highest compliments, I’m amazed she was happy for her. But Serena Williams was, and credit to the champion paying a new champion their due.
Kerber played awesome. Like Raonic, she raised the level of her game so much higher this Australian Open. It seemed like Kerber playing, but a totally different version. Just like Raonic – you could tell it was Raonic, but at a much higher level.
Their movement was also outstanding. Movement, strategy, placement, touch. I think Kerber even made shots I’m surprised she had. Totally felt it out there.
Dan Markowitz · January 30, 2016 at 2:54 pm
But can Kerber beat 57 year old John McEnroe? That’s the main question now when it comes to the women’s game because I think a Mac-Williams match is better than any slam finals configuration for the women. Maybe I’m being too tough. I didn’t watch the match, but really, you want me to get excited over Anglique Kerber!?
Also, Serena’s lost 3-set slam matches. She lost to Vinci at USO in 3 sets last year.
Andrew Miller · January 30, 2016 at 3:20 pm
Sure, Dan. I think you’d do well in getting excited over how Kerber played. He played step-up tennis, which is how a player takes a trophy from one of the best players ever to pick up a racquet.
Bryan · January 30, 2016 at 3:29 pm
It’s a shocker but then again it’s not. I’ve been courtside to see Kerber at the last two BotW Classics at Stanford and she’s won impressively every time. Last year she smoked my girl Elina Svetolina and made it look easy.
Her counter punching, accuracy and unconventional angles make her tough for power strikers, plus now she’s got a lot of experience. Her only weakness is her serve. She’s have won a major earlier if she had a good serve.
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2016 at 5:03 pm
Louise – nice quotes thanks for adding them – that’s a unique quality of Serena – she is more vulnerable to lose to a player she likes such as Kerber – you can tell she genuinely likes her – and when Kerber looked her in the eye and told us that Serena “is an unbelievably great person” it was extremely touching and also a joy for Serena to receive such a high compliment from a rival – so many great moments in this match both during the battle and after it was over – this match showed the world and proved to the world that tennis is the Greatest Sport on earth —
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2016 at 5:04 pm
Good read Andrew – not many tennis observers saw this coming but you did –
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2016 at 5:07 pm
Dan if you can’t appreciate this effort and performance by Kerber and also Serena you should be sentenced to watch 24 straight hours of Lindsay Davenport You Tubes 🙂 Cmon Dan forget about Bobby Riggs battle of the sexes matches for a minute – Kerber vs Serena was incredible tennis –
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Kerber is another Yonex player – this company is really emerging with so many elite players now –
Michael in UK · January 30, 2016 at 6:03 pm
I watched it live on Eurosport tv, personally cannot think of a more gripping and enthralling women’s match that I have seen.
Maybe I should also switch to Yonex racket!
Looking forward to the men’s final now!
Thanks for the excellent match summary and comments above too. great call, Andrew Miller!
Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2016 at 6:26 pm
Really nice to see jamie murray win his first major doubles title (he won mixed with jankovic at wimbledon years ago) and he was really down in a bad slump a few years ago – saw him lose first round at sarasota open challenger with peers (to bolzoljac devvarman I believe) about three years ago maybe four but that partnership blossomed soon after that loss – awesome win 75 in third vs nestor and stepanek – andy was there too filming the award ceremony – andy will be the sentimental favorite in the F tomorrow —
Andrew Miller · January 30, 2016 at 7:37 pm
A lot to like with Kerber – a true lefty game (not afraid of being lefty), nice serving, unconventional placement, (again) smart use of Agassi’s tactic of finding spot and, by hitting the ball just a little better each time to a spot closer and closer to the line, slowly moving a player to the sidelines to open up the court.
Scoop’s comment strikes me as accurate – Serena Williams seemed to genuinely like Kerber and that may have thrown her, having admiration for her opponent’s play. And being upset at how she herself was playing. Opens up the match a little for Kerber to raise her game and play loosely and comfortably at a high level.
That Kerber sustained her level – she really played an amazing match. I think Serena Williams, at 80-100 percent of her best, beats everyone else on the tour. But Kerber played so well that Serena couldn’t get to her highest level – that’s why this is a superb win.
Andrew Miller · January 30, 2016 at 7:37 pm
(Coming from someone who believes Serena Williams is without question the best player of all time).
Dan Markowitz · January 30, 2016 at 9:23 pm
I’m sorry, I’m watching some of this Kerber-Williams finals on tape delay now and while Kerber is playing solid, she’s not a great player. I’m sorry, she hits her forehand flatter than me. She never ventures to net. From what I see, she played smart tactical tennis and let Serena self-destruct. I don’t see brilliance from Kerber.
Catherine · January 31, 2016 at 3:56 am
Dan –
From what I saw of this match I’d say you’re right – Kerber’s a good player but straightforward player who raised her level and knew which buttons to press to trigger SW’s self-destruct mode. Played a clever strategy.
Serena’s plea to her box: ‘I can’t put the effing ball away!’ sort of summed it up. Her game was missing a gear. Who knows why ?
But I don’t expect to see a repetition of that too many times this year.
Dan Markowitz · January 31, 2016 at 6:39 am
Nice reaction by Kerber and Serena at end of match, but please, let’s face it, Kerber did not play brilliantly yesterday. Serena dropped the bar. I mean did you see that gimme volley Serena missed at match point?! All she had to do was hit a drop volley and Kerber wouldn’t have reached it with a fishing pole, but instead Serena duffed it long. She has never been a good volleyer.
But enough women’s tennis (geez, what a relief) I’m watching Murray-Djoko now in third set where Murray has just broken Djoko to tie set 3-3 (after losing first two), it’s a whole lot easier beating Serena in the business end of a slam than it is beating Djoko. Let me ask you, is there a better coaching stare ever (in any sport) than Becker’s? The guy looks like he’ll come out of the box if you dare beat his guy, Djoko.
Murray’s started loosing up in this set and now Murray goes ahead in a set for the first time in the match, 4-3. Murray holds to go up 5-2 with his biggest serve of the match, 132.4. But something tells me Murray just doesn’t play offensively enough and often enough to beat Djoko here. Djoko holds serve 5-5.
I just heard Djoko was seen biking around mid-city Melbourne the other day with his helmet on. Is there a more formidable and intimidating stance as Djoko’s return of serve stance? He looks like so balanced and ready to pounce with his wide-legged position. I notice Raonic also has a similar stance, but he’s not nearly as intimidating as Djoko is on his return of serve pounce.
Has there ever been a great player who looks as skinny as Djoko? He’s gotten my son to believe that you have to forego food in order to be a great player. Fed too looks a little emaciated. Listen to this, Djoko’s in-match snack is not a banana, but dates! Whoever ate dates in-match or ever for that matter?
PMac on ESPN broadcast just said two things that would help Murray immeasurably, hit the backhand bigger and come to net more, especially off of backhand return (by the way, that’s how Spadea beat Agassi at the 99 Aussie O, just pummeling his backhand return and racing to net).
So we’re in the 3rd set tie-breaker, and Murray starts it off with a double fault, trying to guide the second serve in, only Murray’s fourth double of the match, but at a very bad time. Djoko hits ace down the middle. That in a nutshell is the difference between Djoko and Murray, Djoko hits lines and Murray doesn’t. Now Djoko goes back to Murray’s shakier wing the forehand, and he hits it into the net going down the line, 3-0, Djoko.
Murray hits another double to go down 4-1. Let’s face it, tennis should never allow another slam finals between Djoko and Murray. Just some official politely say to the Scot if he reaches another slam finals versus Djoko, I’m sorry, Andy, we’re going to have to substitute someone else in for you here because you have no chance of ever beating Djoko in a slam finals again. I’s sorry.
Now Murray’s down 1-6 in the breaker. Djoko rarely goes inside in on the forehand does he? Everything is inside out. Djoko hits ace on third match point and his winning reaction is a little subdued. Just a pumped fist and stare to his box.
Fowler on ESPN says, “An iron fist” and PMac, says, “What a performance under this tournament.” Djoko’s uncle is there in Australia to represent the Djoko family. His parents are back home in Serbia. I miss Djoko’s parents. They were an odd weird pair. The father especially had those wacko eyes like he’d just gotten off the set of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” with Danny DeVito. Djoko should bring his parents back to his box, but I guess he’s even streamlined them out.
Dan Markowitz · January 31, 2016 at 6:42 am
Excuse me, I meant Murray held to go up 5-4 in the third set not 5-2.
Dan Markowitz · January 31, 2016 at 6:47 am
Geez, are cars ever big in tennis or what? Kerber was wearing a Porsche sticker on her shirt, Djoko a Peugeot and now in the speeches after the match, they got this dude from Kia who has an accent I can only identify as being from Mars, speaking. Cars are big.
Dan Markowitz · January 31, 2016 at 6:56 am
Did Murray just call his wife “a legend” for the way she’s acted over the last two weeks? A legend, yes, we’ll talk about Kim Sears and these last two weeks forever. I’m just kidding, I know it’s been a tough two weeks, but a legend? And
what do they feed these ex-Aussie players? Ken Rosewall looks like he could go out and give Djoko a better match than Murray in a slams final. Let Muscles play instead of Murray if he reaches another slam finals against Djoko!
catherine bell · January 31, 2016 at 10:48 am
Not sure what happened to my earlier comment here – my computer blipped.
Hope I haven’t been struck off – this is one of the few sites where I enjoy the conversation.
Dan – re cars in tennis – Rosewall got a Pinto for winning a title – and weren’t they all recalled ?
Schreiner · January 31, 2016 at 2:33 pm
O.T.
Leustian won in Tarbes (Tiafoe was the last Yank to do so). He beat Devald from Croatia 2&1. He’s got impressive groundies and serve. His footwork is technically decent too. Keep an eye on him. All the US boys and girls were three che ring him on.
Schreiner · January 31, 2016 at 2:34 pm
*there cheering
Andrew Miller · January 31, 2016 at 3:20 pm
Beat down. Murray,0-5 in Aussie finals.
Scoop Malinowski · January 31, 2016 at 5:58 pm
Kerber’s drop shots in the 32 break game were very important – showed Serena variety and both worked perfectly as Serena didn’t even try – Kerber had a few more tricks in her racquet than Serena did – incredible ending – this year the womens final outdid the mens –
Dan Markowitz · February 1, 2016 at 12:42 am
Talking to Vince today he said he was really impressed with Konta’s forehand. It’s almost the forehand he prescribes with a more straight-back backswing and then full extension stroke. He also said Murray has done so well to get to seven slam finals because when you look at his game, he’s not an exceptional player. He doesn’t serve well, his hand at net are not exceptional, his forehand is not top-notch, and yet he’s had this amazing career. Vince also said players like Federer and Murray are attacking Djoko all wrong. They hit to his backhand which is his best wing. You have to go deep and wide to his forehand and Djoko has a tendency to hit short and then you have to attack him.
Vince said Djoko is like Agassi in this regard. The way Vince beat Andre twice is to go deep and hard to his forehand and then attack the net. You can’t go short to his forehand, but if you go deep and hard and angled, both Andre and Djoko, Vince said, have hitches in their forehand stroke that will give you shorter balls to attack on.
As far as the cars/money, it’s insane Catherine, the amount of both in the game today. I mean I blanched when I heard that if Fed won the Aussie O he would’ve put his earnings above $100 million. That’s a lot of dough. I think Sampras won only $40 mil.
Gaurang · February 1, 2016 at 2:24 am
Djoko is utterly dominating the mens field right now. For the first time, I am thinking that CYGS is a possibility for Novak this year. I think he has the right mental state to do it. He has proven in the last 13 months that he now has control his mind which was the weakest component of his game.
In fact, CYGS may not be even necessary. If Djoko wins the RG, which he is likely to anyway, he would have won 4 continuous slams — starting from last year Wimbledon. IMHO, that will be equivalent to me personally as a CYGS… so he has 3, just 1 more slam needed! Comeon Djoko, you can do it!
Dan Markowitz · February 1, 2016 at 2:38 am
It is not the equivalent. It’s quite an achievement to win four slams in a row, but it’s not the same feat as winning four slams in one calendar year. And Vince is right, I was watching replay of finals and if you go deep into Djoko’s forehand corner and come up, you have a better chance of Djoko’s missing running out wide where he tried to hit with too open a stance. I don’t know why more players don’t attack Djoko this way.