Wimbledon 2018 Women’s Singles Final: Angelique Kerber Ends Serena Williams’ Dream Run, Beats Her in Straight Sets to Lift the Title
Before the 2018 final, Kerber trailed 2-6 to Serena in the head-to-head record and in fact their last meeting was in the 2016 Wimbledon final, which the American player had won 7-5, 6-3
Serena William’s dream-run at Wimbledon 2018 came to a screeching halt after World No.10 Angelique Kerber beat the former champion at SW19 in straight sets. The 11th seed from Germany won her maiden Wimbledon title after outshining Williams 6-3, 6-3 in the women’s singles final on Saturday. The final which got pushed in the day due to the second semi-final match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic lasted a little over an hour. Angelique Kerber’s win came as shocker for tennis fans who were routing for Serena to lift her eighth Wimbledon title and her first grand slam post her ten-month long maternity break.
It was a slow start for Serena in the final match as she found herself 0-2 break down in the opening set. Kerber who had had a smooth outing against Jelena Ostapenko in Thursday's semi-final picked up from where she left. The 30-year-old was sharp despite Serena levelling up the score early on. Understanding the ferocity with which Serena Williams plays, Kerber never allowed the American tennis great to settle in the match. She clinched the first set thanks to a pair of untimely double faults from Williams.
Kerber kept the momentum going her way in the second set and not allowing Serena a room to make a comeback in the match. From terrific display of defense to picking the right spots, the two-time grand slam winner earned two break points in the second set to take a 4-2 lead in it. It was here when Serena fans sensed trouble for their favourite player. It was a matter of time after this break as Kerber held her next service game and won the maiden Wimbledon title with a marvellous forehand down the line to earn and convert the match point.
Before the 2018 final, Kerber trailed 2-6 to Serena in the head-to-head record and in fact their last meeting was in the 2016 Wimbledon final, which the American player had won 7-5, 6-3. With the Wimbledon title, Kerber now has a total of three grand slam titles – US Open and Australian Open, both won in 2016.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles semi-finals, Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Rafael Nadal of Spain 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11-9), 3-6, 10-8 in another long match after the marathon first semi-final where Kevin Anderson of South Africa defeated John Isner of the United States 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 26-24 on Friday. The men’s singles final will be played on July 15, Sunday at the Centre Court.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2018 10:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).