Agence France-Presse
London, July 9: Serena Williams powered to her seventh Wimbledon crown as the World No.1 finally claimed a record-equalling 22nd major title with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Angelique Kerber in Saturday’s women’s Wimbledon final.
Serena had been stuck on 21 Grand Slams since winning last year’s Wimbledon, but the American star ended that frustrating barren spell to retain the title and draw level with Steffi Graf’s Open era record.
Serena was pushed hard by Kerber in a high-quality clash lasting 81 minutes on Centre Court, but the German fourth seed eventually crumbled under a barrage of 39 winners and 13 aces from the defending champion. “It’s a great feeling to be here. Angelique brings out great tennis in me,” said Serena. “Number 22 is awesome. Centre Court feels like home.”
Kerber said the American was a great champion. “Serena you deserve it, you are a great champion and great person. We played a great match,” said Kerber in the courtside interview.
Having avenged her shock loss against Kerber in the Australian Open final in January, the champion was all smiles as she paraded the Venus Rosewater Dish around Centre Court after collecting a cheque for £2 million.
In a testament to her remarkable longevity as the sport’s pre-eminent force, Serena is once again Wimbledon’s queen 14 years after her first success at the All England Club. Equalling Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles will be Serena’s next goal.
With pop royalty Beyonce and Jay-Z among Serena’s entourage in the players’ box, Serena finally hit the right notes after so many recent disappointments.
In her ninth Wimbledon final, Serena had a golden opportunity to seize the initiative in Kerber’s first service game, but the German showed her mettle as she saved three breakpoints.
Kerber matched Serena blow for blow in a tense first set. But the American kept slugging away and the barrage eventually proved too much for the 28-year-old to resist.
A sequence of blistering ground strokes rocked the German deep behind the baseline on set point, forcing a fatal error that Serena celebrated with a defiant shriek and a prolonged double-fist pump.
Kerber was still competing gamely in the second set, but when she finally earned a first breakpoint in the seventh game, Serena got out of trouble with a pair of imperious aces. The German’s look of resignation suggested the end was in sight and so it proved as Serena broke in the next game.
Serena’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou in the past had said she enjoys her major triumphs for little more than five minutes before switching her attention to the next target. But judging by the joyous way Serena slumped flat on her back on Centre Court when Kerber miscued on match point, the sweet taste of this historic success might linger a little longer.