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| Angelique Kerber’s upset of Serena Williams in Australian Open signals bright future | Angelique Kerber’s upset of Serena Williams in Australian Open signals bright future |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Behind an array of devastating left-handed and drop shots, Angelique Kerber upset top-ranked Serena Williams in Melbourne on Sunday to claim the Australian Open title. The upset victory makes Kerber, at No. 7, the lowest seed to win the tournament since Williams in 2007 — Kerber’s first year playing professionally. | Behind an array of devastating left-handed and drop shots, Angelique Kerber upset top-ranked Serena Williams in Melbourne on Sunday to claim the Australian Open title. The upset victory makes Kerber, at No. 7, the lowest seed to win the tournament since Williams in 2007 — Kerber’s first year playing professionally. |
| Though the German entered the title match as the sixth-ranked player in the world, not many were particularly hopeful in regards to her upset chances. Williams was fresh off a dominating 6-0, 6-4 win against Agnieszka Radwanska and had never lost in six previous Australian Open finals. It also didn’t help that Kerber had yet to claim a major title in her career, while Williams entered the match with a 21-4 slate in such matches and a 5-1 head-to-head advantage over the 28-year old. | Though the German entered the title match as the sixth-ranked player in the world, not many were particularly hopeful in regards to her upset chances. Williams was fresh off a dominating 6-0, 6-4 win against Agnieszka Radwanska and had never lost in six previous Australian Open finals. It also didn’t help that Kerber had yet to claim a major title in her career, while Williams entered the match with a 21-4 slate in such matches and a 5-1 head-to-head advantage over the 28-year old. |
| This wasn’t even the first time in the tournament that Kerber faced long odds. | This wasn’t even the first time in the tournament that Kerber faced long odds. |
| In her first match, she battled back from match point to win, then upset Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals 6-3, 7-5. (Azarenka, despite being ranked 10 spots behind Kerber, was the second favorite in the tournament behind Williams and had beaten Kerber six consecutive times since 2012.) | In her first match, she battled back from match point to win, then upset Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals 6-3, 7-5. (Azarenka, despite being ranked 10 spots behind Kerber, was the second favorite in the tournament behind Williams and had beaten Kerber six consecutive times since 2012.) |
| With the signature victory, Kerber could lose the underdog label, as she will vault her to the No. 2 in the world rankings, trailing only Williams. | With the signature victory, Kerber could lose the underdog label, as she will vault her to the No. 2 in the world rankings, trailing only Williams. |
| Williams’s loss was her second in as many chances to tie Steffi Graf as the all-time leader in major titles at 22. Williams dropped last year’s U.S. Open semifinal to Roberta Vinci, ending her quest for a calendar-year Grand Slam. | Williams’s loss was her second in as many chances to tie Steffi Graf as the all-time leader in major titles at 22. Williams dropped last year’s U.S. Open semifinal to Roberta Vinci, ending her quest for a calendar-year Grand Slam. |
| Against Kerber, Williams committed 46 unforced errors to the champion’s 13 and did not maintain the same bounce she had in the semifinal. Directly after the match, Williams was a good sport, hugging and being jovial with Kerber as she accepted her trophy. In speaking with the press later, the 34-year old took a moment to discuss her mortality in regards to her play. | Against Kerber, Williams committed 46 unforced errors to the champion’s 13 and did not maintain the same bounce she had in the semifinal. Directly after the match, Williams was a good sport, hugging and being jovial with Kerber as she accepted her trophy. In speaking with the press later, the 34-year old took a moment to discuss her mortality in regards to her play. |
| “I mean, every time I walk in this room, everyone expects me to win every single match, every single day of my life,” Serena said. “As much as I would like to be a robot, I’m not.” | “I mean, every time I walk in this room, everyone expects me to win every single match, every single day of my life,” Serena said. “As much as I would like to be a robot, I’m not.” |
| Following the match, both players were praised by sports figures across the world, Williams for her class in defeat and Kerber for her performance: | Following the match, both players were praised by sports figures across the world, Williams for her class in defeat and Kerber for her performance: |
| https://twitter.com/BSchweinsteiger/status/693392196389699584 | |
| Awesome match from you both! Congrats @AngeliqueKerber much deserved! And such a champion @serenawilliams being just as gracious in defeat. — Johanna Konta (@JoKonta91) January 30, 2016 | Awesome match from you both! Congrats @AngeliqueKerber much deserved! And such a champion @serenawilliams being just as gracious in defeat. — Johanna Konta (@JoKonta91) January 30, 2016 |
| Awesome match from you both! Congrats @AngeliqueKerber much deserved! And such a champion @serenawilliams being just as gracious in defeat. | Awesome match from you both! Congrats @AngeliqueKerber much deserved! And such a champion @serenawilliams being just as gracious in defeat. |
| — Johanna Konta (@JoKonta91) January 30, 2016 | — Johanna Konta (@JoKonta91) January 30, 2016 |
| Well done @serenawilliams – a strong fight and wonderful class in gracious remarks after a defeat that has to sting. A champion. — Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) January 30, 2016 | Well done @serenawilliams – a strong fight and wonderful class in gracious remarks after a defeat that has to sting. A champion. — Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) January 30, 2016 |
| Well done @serenawilliams – a strong fight and wonderful class in gracious remarks after a defeat that has to sting. A champion. | Well done @serenawilliams – a strong fight and wonderful class in gracious remarks after a defeat that has to sting. A champion. |
| — Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) January 30, 2016 | — Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) January 30, 2016 |
| What a final girls @serenawilliams & @AngeliqueKerber Great sportsmanship! Well done to both. Congrats to Angelique for her 1st GS #AusOpen — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 30, 2016 | What a final girls @serenawilliams & @AngeliqueKerber Great sportsmanship! Well done to both. Congrats to Angelique for her 1st GS #AusOpen — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 30, 2016 |
| What a final girls @serenawilliams & @AngeliqueKerber Great sportsmanship! Well done to both. Congrats to Angelique for her 1st GS #AusOpen | What a final girls @serenawilliams & @AngeliqueKerber Great sportsmanship! Well done to both. Congrats to Angelique for her 1st GS #AusOpen |
| — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 30, 2016 | — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 30, 2016 |
| What an amazing final girls! Congrats @AngeliqueKerber what a way to win your first grand slam! & @serenawilliams what an exemple of a champ — Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) January 30, 2016 | What an amazing final girls! Congrats @AngeliqueKerber what a way to win your first grand slam! & @serenawilliams what an exemple of a champ — Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) January 30, 2016 |
| What an amazing final girls! Congrats @AngeliqueKerber what a way to win your first grand slam! & @serenawilliams what an exemple of a champ | What an amazing final girls! Congrats @AngeliqueKerber what a way to win your first grand slam! & @serenawilliams what an exemple of a champ |
| — Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) January 30, 2016 | — Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) January 30, 2016 |
| Total class: @serenawilliams beyond gracious in defeat.#AusOpen — James Andrew Miller (@JimMiller) January 30, 2016 | Total class: @serenawilliams beyond gracious in defeat.#AusOpen — James Andrew Miller (@JimMiller) January 30, 2016 |
| Total class: @serenawilliams beyond gracious in defeat.#AusOpen | Total class: @serenawilliams beyond gracious in defeat.#AusOpen |
| — James Andrew Miller (@JimMiller) January 30, 2016 | — James Andrew Miller (@JimMiller) January 30, 2016 |