Kerber Stuns Williams in Australian Open Women Final

Angelique Kerber Wins Australian Open, Beating Out Serena Williams

Williams had hoped to come even with Steffi Graf for the record of titles held in the Open era of tennis.

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Angelique Kerber kisses the trophy after defeating Serena Williams to win the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday, 

MELBOURNE, Australia— Serena Williamswill have to wait a little longer to make Grand Slam history.

Williams, a heavy favorite in Saturday evening’s Australian Open final, was beaten byAngelique Kerber, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a tense, thrilling match that lasted two hours and nine minutes.

The 34-year-old Williams remains stuck at 21 Grand Slam singles titles, one fewer than Steffi Graf, who holds record for the most major singles titles in the Open era, which began in 1968. Margaret Court holds the all-time record for major singles titles, with 24.

Kerber, a 28-year-old German playing in her first Grand Slam final, frustrated Williams with speed, defense, well-placed serves and passing shots that touched line after line.

Williams played wobbly tennis early on, missing forehands, backhands and swinging volleys, one of her deadliest shots. She made 23 unforced errors in the first set, more than she sometimes makes in a match. Kerber, a lefty who is one of the fastest women in tennis, kept Williams guessing. She broke Williams’s serve twice in the set.

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Serena Williams reacts during the Australian Open final. 

Williams settled down in the second set and seemed ready to take control of the match. But it was Kerber who lifted her level in the third set. She ran down every ball and barely missed. In the game of the match, Kerber broke Williams’s serve to take a 4-2 lead in the third set. Williams saved four break points in the game, but Kerber kept pushing. She hit two of the best drop shots of the tournament, both of them clean winners. She eventually won the game after Williams double faulted and missed a forehand.

Kerber tried to serve out the match at 5-3 in the third set but Williams quickly broke serve. Kerber had another surprise left in her. She kept the next game close and won the match, fittingly, with a low drive that Williams couldn’t handle at the net. Her volley floated long and Kerber fell to her back in disbelief. Williams walked past the net to the other side of the court and the two women embraced.