No-one beats Serena Williams. Specifically, no-one beats Serena Williams in a Grand Slam final.
She has single-handedly been the most consistent and dominating force to occupy a female sport in years. An unforgiving brick-like wall that so many female tennis players are yet to conquer.
And yet, last night, Angelique Kerber said, “No, thanks. It’s my time.”
Within hours, Kerber made sure tennis fans across the globe looked twice. She made sure they sat a little taller, squinted a little harder, and re-checked that score. Because she’d beaten the unbeatable.
And ruined many-a-bookie’s day.
So who exactly is Angelique Kerber?
Kerber celebrated her 28th birthday on the first day of the Melbourne tournament, 13 years after turning professional.
Born in Bremen, Germany, she grew up with father as her coach for a long time and now resides in Puszczykowo, Poland.
Hailing from a tennis family, her grandparents own a tennis facility named after her, and she has previously spoken about how she touched her first racquet when she was just three-years-old.
Kerber speaks German, Polish and English just to make you feel a little less talented and a little more inferior, is a Brand Ambassador for Porsche and boasts her own line of tennis gear.
And who is she expecting to hear from straight after this historic win? Steffi Graf, no less.
The left-hander is the first German to win the tournament since Steffi Graf last did in 1994.
Watch her post-match interview and you sense you’re watching a player with the self-belief of someone who has just toppled the world’s best player, and the humility to acknowledge it doesn’t yet feel quite real.
“My dream came true after that match point,” she told her post match interview.
And a dream come true she deserves.
Top Comments
What is her reputation as a player?!
Funny thing happened at the women's final. The huge crowd cheered wildly for Serena; puts to bed the crazy notion this great country of ours is racist - well and truly.
Wait, people cheered for one black athlete, therefore no-one in the country is racist? That's a bit of a stretch, isn't it?
The country isn't racist.
The entire Australian population was not present at that match. And how do you know everyone in the crowd was cheering?
Just because racism doesn't happen once, doesn't mean it never happens.
Just one example Rush, there are many more; but I guess, for some obscure reason, you are determined to view our country as racist and nothing will change your mind.