5 reasons why Angelique Kerber triumphed at the Australian Open 2016

Angelie Kerber with her maiden Grand Slam titleWhat is the power of self-belief? Pose this question to the latest Australian Open Champion Angelique Kerber and she will offer to become your ÂÂBelief CoachÂÂ. Does a Belief Coach exist? If not, she just opened doors to a new career this day.Stepping onto the Rod Laver Arena to play her first ever Grand Slam Final, the 28-year old Kerber knew she was in for an uphill task of battling a 21 time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams. Williams, on the verge of equaling Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slams, appeared as focused and prepared as in her previous 6 matches in the run up to the Finale. Not having dropped a set enroute the Finale, Williams had a 6-0 record in the Finals and was seeking her 7th Australian Open title.Kerber, who had defeated Williams just once in their previous meetings, had mentioned in the press conferences that she was driven by immense self-belief and would play like she had nothing to lose in the final. But making a statement is one thing and proving it right is another. In a nerve wracking final that lasted a little over 2 hours, the German tapped into every ounce of her grit, determination and repertoire to pull off the huge upset.

#1 Serena Williams was bad tactically

Williams in a pensive mood after losing the first set

Was it the left knee that bothered Williams, though it never showed throughout the match? Or was it Patrick Moratouglou’s game plan for her?

The American was rushing the net on almost every other point and trying to cut down on rallies. With less than 50% success rate at the net, Williams stuck to the same plan for the entire match and did nothing different to stop the bleeding. Her volleys either sailed wide or just caught the net. No amount of self berating and “Come Ons” could get the World No.1 going. Williams went on to pile on a mammoth 46 unforced errors, one short of the number of winners.

#2 The serve misfired for the mighty Williams

Williams surprised with her erratic self.

Williams has always been known as the ace machine among the women. She holds the record for the most number of aces by a female player with 102 on her way to the Wimbledon 2012 Final. The serve comes to her rescue at crucial junctures and gets her past the finish line on Match Points.

However, Williams could manage only 7 aces compared to Kerber’s 5 in yesterday’s final. What hurt her prospects even more were the 6 double faults that came in fast and furious as the match wore on. 3 of the 6 Double Faults came off the Williams’ racquet in the final set. She could never find her range on her serve till the very end.

#3 Kerbers strong defense and clean hitting

Kerber was spot on with her trademark defense and signature forehand.

Kerber’s defense was as strong as ever as she executed perfect passing on shots that left Williams looking up to her box for hope. Kerber had made just 2 unforced errors compared to 19 by Williams as she clinched the first set. Though Williams steadied the ship by winning the second set, Kerber resorted to some clean hitting and raced to a 2-0 lead early in the final set.

In the entire match, Kerber rarely missed a ground stroke and moved Williams from side to side. She won about 72% of medium length rallies (rallies with shots between 4 and 9) and found her footing as the match progressed. Kerber had a great ratio of winners to unforced errors as she played a clean match with 25 winners and just 13 unforced errors.

#4 Kerber took her chances when it mattered most

Fortune favors the brave : Kerber‘s winning moment.

In terms of break point conversion, there was not much to separate between the two players. While Williams converted 50% of her break point opportunities, Kerber was marginally better at 56%. Both players traded breaks through-out the match but Kerber consolidated her serve when it counted the most – the last game of the First Set. With the First Set in her kitty, she had the psychological edge over Williams.

Though Williams lived up to her reputation of the ‘Comeback Queen’ by winning the second set, Kerber recouped in the third and broke early. She led 5-2 in the third and was broken by Williams while serving for the Championship. Williams looked vulnerable while serving at 4-5 to stay in the match.

Kerber played some fearless tennis to create a 7th Break Point opportunity in the third set and her first Championship Point. As the Williams forehand volley sailed wide, Kerber had not only broken the Williams serve but also won her first Grand Slam title.

#5 Self-doubt versus self-belief

Gracious in defeat : Serena Williams shares a light moment with the new Champion.

From the beginning of the match, Williams was one big ball of nerves. Having won multiple Grand Slams one would have expected her to draw upon her extensive experience to turn the match around. Though she did try firing herself up when she was trailing, it was never enough to overcome the self-doubt that seems to have crept into her psyche and dented her mental armor since the last US Open. She was very tentative at the net and winners, though almost twice as many as Kerber, were not enough to save her from an off day at the office.

Most players in their first Grand Slam Final are usually overwhelmed by the occasion. Natasha Zvereva lost her first Grand Slam Final to Steffi Graf in 29 minutes. Sabine Lisicki could not overcome nerves and tears in her first Slam Final against Marion Bartoli.

However, Angelique Kerber seemed extremely calm and self-assured from the moment she stepped on to the court in her maiden attempt to lift the Daphne Akhurst Trophy. Following a stint in March 2015 with the legendary Steffi Graf herself, Kerber imbibed self-belief that not only powered her to winning WTA titles in the latter part of 2015 but also resulted in her winning the Australian Open 2016 Women’s Singles Championship yesterday.

From being a Match Point down in her first round to winning her first ever Grand Slam title on her first Match Point, Kerber proved how rewarding self-belief can be no matter how strong an opposition you may be up against.