The much expected seventh US Open title for Serena Williams never manifested as Angelique Kerber from Germany, who bested Williams in the Australian Open final, defeated Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, to earn her second Grand Slam title of 2016, becoming the first woman since 2007, other than Williams, to capture two majors in the same year.
With her victory at the USTA Billy Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, Kerber replaces Williams as the No. 1 ranked women’s player in the world.
“I was always believing in myself … and my team as well,” Kerber said after her stirring three-set win. “They [were] always telling me when I was down, ‘You are a really good player. You played tough matches against the best players in the world.’ It was just the next step to beat the best player.”
The 28-year-old Kerber was also bestowed the fifth annual US Open Sportsmanship Award, presented to players who demonstrate excellence in sportsmanship. Although the 24-year-old Pliskova’s run was stopped short by Kerber, she established herself as a perennial contender for future majors.
She eliminated both Williams sisters in this year’s US Open, knocking out Venus in the fourth round and dismissing Serena in the semi-finals. Serena, the younger of the Williams sisters—she’ll turn 35 Sept. 21—was hampered by a nagging leg injury
“I wasn’t able to move the way I wanted to move,” she said after falling to Pliskova. “When you’re injured, you’re thinking of other things when you should be just playing and thinking of your shots.
My mind was just a little bit everywhere. I’m not downplaying anything. Karolina played great. I think if she had played any less, then maybe I would have had a chance.”
