Kerber stuns Serena to protect idol Graf’s record

Angelique Kerber

On a night when Steffi Graf loomed large over Rod Laver Arena, an inspired Angelique Kerber stunned Serena Williams in a three-set classic to win the Australian Open on Saturday and become Germany’s first grand slam champion in 17 years. 

In the ultimate tribute to her childhood hero, Kerber foiled Williams’s bid to match the German great’s tally of grand slam titles, closing out a magnificent 6-4 3-6 6-4 win in her first major final. 

The seventh seed’s triumph secured her nation’s first grand slam win since Graf raised her 22nd and final trophy at the 1999 French Open. 

‘Yeah, I think I helped Steffi right now,’ a beaming Kerber told reporters. ‘This is the first big tournament of the year, and I won it, the first grand slam. It sounds crazy, but I can say I’m a grand slam champion now.’ 

Kerber sought inspiration from Graf during a trip to the 46-year-old’s Las Vegas home last year and put in a performance worthy of her mentor.

She defended brilliantly throughout the two-hour and eight-minute cliff-hanger, showing nerves of steel to fend off Williams who had roared back from 5-2 down in the deciding set. 

In a final game riven with tension, Williams succumbed on the first match point with a volley that floated well past the baseline. 

Kerber was already flopping to the ground before the ball had landed, and she flung her racquet away as a packed crowd of 15,000 roared in elation and disbelief. 

The 24-year-old Williams has no liking for runner-up finishes at grand slams, and her defeat was the first in a final since her shock loss to Sam Stosur at the 2011 US Open. Her hopes of pulling off a rare calendar grand slam were left in tatters once again, only four months after they were crushed in the US Open semi-finals by Italian Roberta Vinci. 

Williams was nonetheless gracious in defeat, walking directly to Kerber’s side of the court to embrace her warmly as the champion wept with joy. ‘She had an attitude that I think a lot of people can learn from: just to always stay positive and to never give up,’ Williams told reporters. ‘I was really inspired by that. So, honestly, she’s a really good girl. If I couldn’t win, I’m happy she did. ‘I mean, every time I walk in this room, everyone expects me to win every single match, every single day of my life. As much as I would like to be a robot, I’m not. I try to.’ 

It was instead an all-too-human display by Williams in an opening set laden with 23 unforced errors — 20 more than her opponent. Kerber broke her twice to wrap up the set before Williams regrouped to send the match into a decider, accompanied by screams of ‘C’mon!’ 

Counter Attack of Bernard Tomic!

Bernard Tomic

So Bernard Tomic has a 'reputation' to speak loose words! That's why, can he gibe Roger Federer (!) Australian tennis player slebor said, at the moment Federer is behind to Novak Djokovic!

Federer knows it also! But suddenly why this bad boy is distraught on Federer? Bernard Tomic is anger for a speech of Federer. Federer said about Bernard Tomic, He has come with many promises, but couldn't show anything! At the beginning of the year he plays a little bit well in the Australian Open, after he plays nothing!

Federer reminded to Tomic, a year makes with 52 weeks not only with one week! Tomic feels anger for this.

Again Twin!

Roger Federer twins

Roger Federer knows the feeling of being a sort of twin fathers! In 2009 he  faced his first parental feeling of a twin. Federer is going to get this feeling again. His wife Mirka is going to be the mother of a twin again.

Two daughters Shirley and Malia are going to get their playing partner, Federer confirmed this news on last Christmas.  On next July Shirley and Malia are going to be 'Sister'. However Federer couple or someone close to them didn't say anything about their upcoming twin child. Federers' family is being pulled by twin sons, his sister Diana also a mother of twin sons!