Wimbledon 2016: Serena Williams beats Angelique Kerber to win 22nd Grand Slam
Last updated on .From the section Tennis
World number one Serena Williams beat German fourth seed Angelique Kerber to win a seventh Wimbledon and 22nd Grand Slam title.
The American, 34, coped with a gusty wind on Centre Court to win 7-5 6-3 and equal Steffi Graf's Open era record of major titles.
Kerber had beaten Williams in the Australian Open final in January but could not produce another shock.
Williams ends a losing run at Slams stretching back to Wimbledon last year.
Later on Centre Court, Serena and sister Venus claimed their sixth Wimbledon women's doubles title - and 14th Grand Slam trophy - with a 6-3 6-4 win over Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova.
This court definitely feels like home - Williams
Fourteen years since she first won Wimbledon, Williams claimed the title for a seventh time after dropping just one set all tournament.
The world number one banished memories of last year, when she fell two matches short of a historic calendar Grand Slam, and of losing in the Australian and French Open finals this year.
"It's been incredibly difficult not to think about it," she said of finally winning number 22.
"It makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked hard for it.
"This court definitely feels like home, I have a match later today in the doubles, so I'll be back out."
Williams moves alongside German great Graf in the all-time list of Grand Slam singles champions, and just two behind overall leader Margaret Court, the Australian who won 13 of her 24 major titles before tennis turned professional in 1968.
Kerber unable to break Williams
Williams had tried and failed three times to win her 22nd major singles title but she finally got over the line with a performance that owed as much to nerve as to skill.
Kerber, 28, was the outsider but buoyed by her win over Williams in Melbourne, and the swirling wind added another element of uncertainty to the final.
The German's serve was under pressure immediately but after she saw off three break points in the second game, Kerber managed to contain Williams for the most part with her relentless hitting from corner to corner.
A pumped-up Williams roared in celebration after one lunging volley, and again when three serves got her out of trouble at 5-5, and it was Kerber's resistance which broke first.
After a carefully managed 12 games the German made only her fourth and fifth errors of the set to fall 15-40 behind, before Williams converted her second set point with a thumping backhand into the corner.
Kerber was not about to fold, however, finally earning her first break point of the match at 3-3 in the second set after one hour and 13 minutes - only to watch as Williams hammered a 117mph ace out wide.
And moments later an engrossing final came to a sudden end.
Kerber mis-hit a backhand to drop serve and Williams then powered through her final service game, punching away a forehand volley on match point and falling back on to the Centre Court turf.
What the experts said
Steffi Graf, seven-time Wimbledon champion on Facebook: "What an incredible performance by Serena at Wimbledon. Such a gift to all sport fans who get to continue to watch her add to an already amazing career #22."
Billie Jean King, six-time Wimbledon champion: "The difference was the serve, because their groundstrokes they matched up so well.
"It is the most beautiful serve ever. I remember seeing Serena when she was probably 11 or 12 and her technique was beautiful and she is such a terrific athlete.
"Serena hates losing and I think that is what makes her so great. If Serena can keep her motivation and stay healthy I think she can be the greatest ever. I think she is and will be, but she needs to do it."
Lindsay Davenport, 1999 Wimbledon champion: "This has been the goal since Serena left the tournament 12 months ago, to get to 22 and seven Wimbledon titles.
"She has been a woman on a mission for two weeks. She had one iffy match against [Christina] McHale and that was it."
John McEnroe, three-time Wimbledon champion: "I do think it is highly likely that will happen [Williams overtaking Court], she has tremendous will and desire. If you want to be the greatest of the great, that is the way you have to play.
"I don't see anyone on the horizon that will mean she doesn't get at least a couple more quickly."
Comments
Join the conversation
Her matches are also boring, no skill, just power hit the ball. Im surprised her competition hasn't changed tactics to cope with that. The female game is lacking good players and is boring.
'Sadly so many comments about Serena's appearance.'
It's not her appearance, it's her physicality. You can't escape the fact that if you pitch a heavyweight against a lightweight, the heavyweight will always win.
She has skill, yes, but a cross court shot at 100+ mph is going to be so much harder to return that one at 50+.
Stop looking for PC excuses and face reality.
had foot-faulted her,and, with her racquet raised, shrieked ' I'll kill you'! She should
have been thrown out of tennis sine die, but the tennis authorities chickened out,
and did nothing
It's interesting how the men's game seems to be full of all-time greats at the moment; while the women's game is stuffed with talent, but not on Serena's level.
the nonsense comments saying oh but if she didnt have her serve.. well she does have it so its a moot point. Incredible athlete, every era has one or two players who are a step above, it makes the others better players
what a match from kerber, Great fighting spirit
Nice warm up for murray
Great player, utterly dominant. Folk can make much of there being nobody able to challenge her but that's not her fault. She can only beat what's put in front of her and beat them she inevitably does. A very worthy champion, well done Serena.
They are definitely being paid more than men right now when its 5 v 3 set matches.They are perfectly able to do 5 sets if they train for it just like the men do. They may be slower around a court (due to often being shorter) and usually weaker due to genetics, but endurance wise there is little difference to use as an excuse
Harsh comment wouldn't you say? You obviously are young and don't remember the young kid who began playing - worked hard on the court and in the gym, as she saw it necessary to become physically fit to help her succeed. Slimmer women have beaten SW (Angelique, Soropova etc) but your bitterness at her success blinds you and keeps you from being gracious to another.
While she is unquestionably a fearsome and intimidating competitor, far too often she has looked for excuses and failed to give opponents any credit when she has lost a match.
Serena Williams won. She wasn't lucky, didn't get an easy opponent, didn't buy her titl. She showed grace, skill, determination and experience.
A very worthy winner indeed.
She also comes across a very decent human being and has a lot more dignity than many of the commenters on here!
For the men final tomorrow, come on Andy and Lewis to win at Silverstone.