Serena Williams defeated Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 to clinch the Wimbledon 2016 title on Saturday, successfully defending her SW19 crown and claiming her first major victory in 12 months.
Serena Williams gets her hands on the Wimbledon trophy for the seventh time, to a huge roar. She speaks to Sue Barker on the court...
'It is such a great feeling to be out here. Angelique, I love playing here. She really brings out the best tennis in me. Thank you for being that great person.
'It's been incredibly difficult not to think about it [No 22]. I had two tries this year and lost to two great opponents but this makes the moment even sweeter.
'This court feels like home and I have another match later in the Doubles. I'll be back out later. I love playing out here on Centre Court. I'm just so excited.'
Saturday's win also meant Williams equalled Steffi Graf's record for the most Open era Grand Slam titles won by a female player.
Kerber put up a resilient fight against the world No.1, but Williams' serving prowess was ultimately too much for the German to replicate the upset that saw her win the same fixture at this year's Australian Open.
The serve was always going to be a key component of Saturday's showdown on Centre Court. Kerber came close to losing hers at the first time of asking after letting her foe serve first, saving three break points to stay level.
The two combatants traded early blows, and it looked as though the German could have fallen behind at several junctures.
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There was some concern when Williams suffered a slip in the ninth game after her toes got caught on the playing surface and she appeared to roll her ankle. However, it seemed to have little impact as the score trickled to five games apiece.
The top seed timed the first break of the match to perfection. DespiteKerber saving a set point at 40-15 down, Williams booked the vital lead.
It was a forceful way to end the opening set for Williams, but the metronomic exchange of points continued into the second. Kerberheld her own to remain level at 1-1 and even showed more adventure on her return.
Williams inched ahead by a game after a powerful serving display, butKerber garnered huge noise from Centre Court with a thunderous double backhand down the line.
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Kerber brought the best out of the tournament favourite, and Williams looked almost superhuman at times in her ability to predict the German's path of play en route to the pair tying at 3-3.
In the seventh game of the second, Kerber snatched a 40-30 lead for the first time in the match. Williams was at risk of conceding a break for the first time, but still the American thundered back with three points in succession to end the challenge all too swiftly.
The fourth seed pulled out some of the more spectacular shots against such an irrepressible force, but time and again it seemed to be a case of one step forward and two back for Kerber.
Williams' first victory of 2016 finally brings in a cherished 22nd major title, level with Graf, but the pressure is now on to see if she can finish the year stronger than the fashion in which she began it.
For the third time in her career, Williams has sealed back-to-back Wimbledon titles, and it would mark a first for the American if she could complete the hat-trick in 2017.
After tying Graf's Open era record for Grand Slam titles won, Williams will now look to set a new bar before 2016 is through, but she can undoubtedly afford to revel in the moment of Saturday's triumph.
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Originally posted by: bleacherreport.com
