The new World No.1 & US Open champion Angelique Kerber might just have started a new momentum shift in Women’s tennis after ending an astonishing 186-week long reign of Serena Williams atop the WTA rankings.
In doing so, not only did she become first German to become No.1 since Steffi Graf, she also did her legendary compatriot a huge favour by not allowing Serena to beat Graf’s now tied record 186-week reign as No.1.
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The left-handed Kerber did so on the back of a phenomenal 2016 which she started ranked 10th in the world. She would go on to reach 3 Grand Slam finals and win 2 of them to establish her dominance on the tour this year.
Surprisingly, the 28-year-old’s remarkable turn around of fortunes has seen her become the oldest woman in history to lead the rankings for the first time. As they say, better late than never.
Let’s take a peek at some of Kerber’s highlights this year (in chronological order)
#10 A sign of things to come at Brisbane
Kerber was one of the ‘silent’ members of the top 10 coming into the Australian Open but showed the first signs that she was ready to step up when she stormed to the final at Brisbane International – one of the warm-up tournaments before the year’s first Grand Slam.
Kerber who was seeded 4th at the event beat the likes of Camila Giorgi, Madison Brengle, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Carla Suárez Navarro for the loss of just 1 set before falling to Victoria Azarenka in the final. To be fair, she had never beaten Azarenka in 5 outings before this match.
Though she did not win the tournament, Kerber showed signs of being in peak form and was being talked up as a dark horse for the Australian Open.
#9 Kerber has her ‘Azarenka’ revenge at Australian Open
Kerber’s 6-3, 7-5 win over her nemesis Azarenka in the Australian Open quarterfinals was monumental for her in many ways. This was her first career win over the Belarussian in 7 attempts and she also became the first German to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open since 1998.
She hit her crisp forehands and looked eerily in control against Azarenka, who suffered her first loss of 2016.
In many ways, this match gave Kerber the belief to raise her game a few notches.
#8 Kerber leaves Serena stunned!
Kerber was supposed to be a sideshow in the final of the Australian Open which was meant to be Serena’s landmark 22nd Grand Slam triumph. She was just somebody who did well to reach here but was not supposed to win.
But the German made the world sit up and take note of her with a figting 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win. The mental strength she displayed in the 3rd set was immense; we’ve seen many a challenger fade away against a relentless Serena in deciders. But Kerber did not roll over and took the game to her illustrious rival.
The victory propelled her into the conscience of the average tennis fan and also did her ranking a world of good, catapulting her to No.2.
#7 Impressive showing at Fed Cup
In a crucial World Group playoff for Germany, Kerber stepped up to the plate and delivered 2 crucial wins against Irina-Camelia Begu and Simona Halep of Romania, both in straight sets.
The 4-1 victory over Romania meant that Germany would remain in the World Group. Importantly, the win over Halep was the first in Kerber’s career against the Romanian in 4 meetings.
#6 Success at Porsche Grand Prix, Stuttgart
After a series of comparatively disappointing results after her Australian Open victory, she successfully defended her title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix at Stuttgart in April.
More importantly, it was a confidence boost for the German who successfully defended a title for the first time in her career – a mark of a champion. She beat Petra Kvitova, en route to the final, where she defeated compatriot Laura Siegemund, who got the better of 3 players in the top-10 en route to the final.
Kerber imperiously reeled off 10 straight games after being 2-4 down to win the final in straight sets!
#5 Kerber reaches her first Wimbledon final
After a series of first-round exits at tournaments including at the French Open, Angelique Kerber showed the world that she was no flash in the pan with a stunning run on the grass courts of SW19 that saw her set up a final against Serena Williams again.
In fact, she did not drop a single set en route to the final, including a straight sets demolition of Venus Williams in the semi-finals.
Though Serena convincingly defeated her and won her 22nd title, Kerber had proven that she was playing some of the best tennis of her life by reaching 2/3 Grand Slam finals so far.
#4 A silver medal at Rio Olympics next!
She followed up her good Wimbledon showing by making another final. By this time, Kerber had become a certain favourite at any event but she came up against an inspired Puerto Rican in the final, who was too hot to handle.
Though Monica Puig won the gold, Kerber got to take home the silver medal – by no means a small achievement. She had come through a tough field, which consisted of the likes of Samantha Stosur, Johanna Konta and Madison Keys.
#3 Almost No.1 at Cincinnati Masters
Just before the US Open, Kerber had a chance to topple Serena from the No.1 ranking and prevent her from equalling Graf’s record, when she reached the final of the Cincinnati Masters.
She had beaten the likes of Kristina Mladenovic, Barbora Strýcová, Carla Suárez Navarro, and Simona Halep to reach the final, where she only had to defeat Karolina Pliskova to wrest the No.1 ranking from Serena.
But a nervous Kerber was outplayed by the Czech girl to help Serena hold on to the top spot and keep Kerber waiting. But it only would be a temporary delay as Kerber headed into the final Grand Slam of the year in top form.
#2 Finally, the elusive World No.1 ranking !
After Serena Williams was shocked in the semi-final of the US Open by Karolina Pliskova, the same girl who denied Kerber the No.1 ranking in August, all the German had to do was to get past Caroline Wozniacki and reach the final to break Serena’s stranglehold on the top ranking which began in February 2013.
This time, nerves would not fail Kerber who unfurled her range of shots and aggression to blaze past the Dane 6-4, 6-3 and clinch a momentuous No.1 ranking.
A WTA statement read, “It is extremely difficult to reach the pinnacle of our sport, and Angelique has demonstrated amazing work ethic in the past year.” She certainly deserved the honour having worked hard to raise her level and enjoy a breakthrough year with the ultimate prize.
#1 Celebrates the No.1 rank with the US Open title!
Immediately after she was assured of the top ranking, Kerber took on Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova, who had denied her the ranking once in August, in the final.
Pliskova had just upset Serena and was in the form of her life. But Kerber was as focused as ever and both of them served up a brilliant final.
Kerber started the final brilliantly to take the first set before Pliskova won the 2nd. But the German was not to be denied – she celebrated her rise to No.1 by clinching the final set and the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
It was only fitting that Kerber won the first and the final Grand Slams in a momentous year for her. It capped a remarkable rise for the 28-year-old who found it hard to keep her emotions in check after the game.
“All my dreams came true this year. When I was a kid I was always dreaming of being No 1 in the world and winning Grand Slams. I’ll be No. 1 on Monday and now I’ve won my second Grand Slam here.”
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