Report and reaction
Right that’s all from Williams and all from me. Thanks for your company today and during the fortnight. Jacob will be here tomorrow for the men’s final. Bye!
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Williams comes into the press conference room.
On Kerber: “She played from the first point to the last point really good. She played unbelievable.”
On the late start time: “It definitely didn’t have any impact on me. It was a necessary evil that had to be done, [the men] had to finish their match. It was probably the only way to schedule it.”
On reaching the final: “It was a great opportunity for me. I didn’t know a couple of months ago where I was, and so these two weeks have showed me I can really compete and be a contender to win grand slams. This is literally just the beginning. I took a giant step at Wimbledon but my journey has just began.”
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A mark of Kerber’s consistency: she hit only five unforced errors during the whole match. And Williams, only four tournaments and 14 matches into her comeback, just didn’t have the stamina to stay with her. It was over after only an hour and five minutes but, for Williams, the way she was tugged around court, it will surely have felt longer.
Would happily have seen a third (and fourth and fifth) set of that Kerber vs. Williams final.
— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) July 14, 2018
Surely ideal situation is now best-of-3 during first 4 rounds for both men and women, and then best-of-5 for the last 2 or 3 rounds - both genders. Tie-breaks in final sets. #Wimbledon
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Kerber is looking at her name, which is already painted on the winners’ board. She’s now out on the balcony of the clubhouse showing off the trophy. Meanwhile some tweets:
The moment @AngeliqueKerber won #Wimbledon for the first time 🏆#TakeOnHistory pic.twitter.com/GsySRMNXaq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
Great achievement for @AngeliqueKerber, a well-deserved third grand slam title. Also amazing effort from @serenawilliams to make the final, just over 10 months after a traumatic birth.
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) July 14, 2018
In 2016, Kerber won 63 matches.
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) July 14, 2018
In 2017 Kerber won 29 matches.
This is 39 wins in 2018
A French from a Career Slam
This amazing woman @serenawilliams has given birth to her little girl just one day before I gave birth to my girl 10 months ago. I am barely surviving to watch, and she is RUNNING and playing FINAL of a Grand Slam 🥇🏆 just to put things into perspective. 👏👏👏👏
— Jelena Djokovic (@JelenaRisticNDF) July 14, 2018
I’m so proud of you @serenawilliams always inspiring and raising the bar higher for all! ❤️
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) July 14, 2018
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The players walk off court, Kerber is beaming and Williams manages to smile too. Despite the defeat, she has to be proud of what she’s achieved so early into her comeback.
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Here’s a quick report for you. Kevin Mitchell is typing furiously next to me, we’ll have his version up soon:
The champion speaks: “First I have to say Serena, you’re a great person and a champion. Coming back, you’re such an inspiration for everyone. I’m sure you will have your next grand slam title soon, so congrats for coming back.
“I knew I had to play my best tennis against Serena. It’s my second chance [in the final]. I’m the next German after Steffi to win, it’s amazing.”
Trophy time. Williams trudges up first to collect the runners-up plate, followed by Kerber, who holds aloft the Venus Rosewater dish.
“It was such an amazing tournament for me,” says Williams, her voice breaking. “I was really happy to get this far. It’s obviously disappointing but I can’t be disappointed. I’m literally just getting started.
Sue Barker tells Williams she’s a “superhero supermum”. Williams holds back the tears again, before replying: “For all the mums out there, I was playing for you today, I tried. Angelique played out of her mind. She’s an incredible person and a really good friend so I’m really happy for her.”
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So history eludes Williams this afternoon – she’ll have to wait until the US Open to attempt to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 grand slam titles, but Kerber has written her own history. She’s the first German to win Wimbledon since her childhood hero Steffi Graf in 1996, and this Wimbledon crown adds to the Australian Open and US Open titles she won in 2016.
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Kerber is the Wimbledon champion with a 6-3, 6-3 victory!
So Kerber is serving for her first Wimbledon title. 15-0, 30-0, when Williams storms forward to the drive volley but inexplicably fires long! She’s down on her knees, despairing. A lengthy duel on the third point, Williams decides she doesn’t want to do any more running and a delicate drop shot settles matters. 30-15. A tight second serve from Kerber and Williams loosens up, pinging the cross-court return. 30-all. 40-30, championship point, after Kerber’s effort grazes the baseline! And Kerber becomes the Wimbledon champion for the first time when Williams’s return flops into the net! Kerber tumbles to the grass, Williams graciously walks to the other side of the court to congratulate the champion, and Kerber is now blowing kisses to the stands. She then decides to do a Pat Cash by going to the players’ box, embracing, among others, Wim Fissette, the former coach of Konta, Azarenka and Clijsters, who’s done such a great job of turning around her form this year. He’s played a big part in this win.
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Second set: *Kerber 6-3, 5-3 Williams (*denotes next server)
15-0. 30-0. 40-0. Game. A champion’s response from Williams but Kerber is about to serve to become this year’s champion ...
Second set: Kerber 6-3, 5-2 Williams* (*denotes next server)
Two tempting second serves from Kerber but two consecutive backhand errors from Williams and Kerber holds to 15. After less than an hour, Williams must hold serve to stay in this final ..
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Second set: *Kerber 6-3, 4-2 Williams (*denotes next server)
Kerber is the highest-ranked player Williams has played this tournament and it shows. Because this is Williams and we expect so much of her, it’s easy to forget this is only her fourth tournament back and it’s only 10 months ago that she gave birth to her daughter. To put it into perspective: Kim Clijsters was the last player to win a grand slam after becoming a mother, at the US Open in 2009. But her daughter wasn’t so young and Clijsters says there’s no way she could have come back as soon as Williams has. Kerber, meanwhile, is charging around the court and fires a forehand down the line for 15-40, two break points. And on the second she sends another clean winner to almost exactly the same spot! Kerber is in command.
Second set: Kerber 6-3, 3-2 Williams* (*denotes next server)
Williams hauls herself to deuce from 40-0 down. But a cry from Williams when Kerber claims the next two points to hold. They’re still on serve in this second set but Williams does not look comfortable. Kerber is playing with such consistency and Williams is very up and down.
Second set: *Kerber 6-3, 2-2 Williams (*denotes next server)
At 40-30 on Williams’s serve, Anna Wintour is biting her nails in the players’ box. She needn’t have looked so worried because Williams holds. But Williams is sucking for air here, Kerber is doing such a good job of dragging her all around the court. Kerber is the first top defensive player Williams has played this tournament and Williams is finding it hard to keep up.
Second set: Kerber 6-3, 2-1 Williams* (*denotes next server)
Williams is willing herself to produce more here. The crowd are doing their best to encourage her too. They want a third set, of course, but I think there’s more to it than that, there’s a real desire for Williams to win the trophy. It would be such an inspirational story, plus she’s won even more fans than she already had by talking so candidly in her off-court interviews and on social media about motherhood and the troubles she’s had over the past year. Williams is pushing at 15-30 but then throws in the strangest of shots when, at the net, she plays pat-a-cake with a smash. Perhaps the ball dropped lower than she was expecting. Kerber holds to 30.
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Second set: *Kerber 6-3, 1-1 Williams (*denotes next server)
An ominous stat for Williams: in their previous eight meetings, the player who has won the first set has gone on to win the match. She’s looking uncomfortable at 15-30, Kerber is getting so many balls back, but Williams fist pumps and urges herself to the next three points, the highlight an excellent drop volley.
Second set: Kerber 6-3, 1-0 Williams* (*denotes next server)
Kerber clearly hasn’t read the script. This afternoon was supposed to be about Williams further enhancing her greatness. That could still happen, of course, but Kerber is showing no signs of easing off at the start of the second set. She holds to 15.
Discount Serena at your peril...but a sense that SW is finally confronting the weight of the occasion. Down 3-6.
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) July 14, 2018
Kerber wins the first set 6-3!
Williams misses a makable volley on the second point and it’s 0-30. She’s potentially two points away from conceding the first set. She puts away a drive volley, that will have felt good. Can she build on that? Yes – but it was touch and go – Kerber attempts the lob with Williams close to the net and it goes just long. 30-all. 30-40, after a mistimed groundstroke. Set point. Williams rams a high backhand into the net and Kerber secures the set! She’s doing a great job of neutralising Williams’s power and hit only three unforced errors in that set. What German efficiency.
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First set: Kerber 5-3 Williams* (*denotes next server)
There’s nothing Williams hates more than being broken. She often retaliates immediately. She’s pushing at 30-all here, Kerber is living a little dangerously, but survives when Williams’s effort whistles wide. 40-30. Game.
First set: *Kerber 4-3 Williams (*denotes next server)
Williams’s movement is so impressive so early into her comeback. She’s forced to cover several blades of grass on the opening point but it’s Kerber who wins it. 0-15. A first double fault, 0-30. And there’s another! Two in a row, that’s extremely rare from Williams. 0-40. Keen to make amends, she sends down a smash on the first break point and Kerber hits an air shot. An unreturned serve out wide on the second break point. But it’s third time lucky for Kerber, when Williams goes long! Another jolting change in momentum. After Kerber’s early charge, and Williams’s response, it’s now Kerber in the ascendancy again.
First set: Kerber 3-3 Williams* (*denotes next server)
But Kerber sees Williams’s attack and raises it with some superb defence. A fizzing forehand down the line and a beautiful backhand down the line and it’s 40-0 Kerber. 40-15. Kerber holds from there.
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First set: *Kerber 2-3 Williams (*denotes next server)
Pow. A 125mph ace from Williams – the fastest of the women’s tournament – seals the game to love. That’s as fast as they were serving in the men’s semi-final. From 2-0 down Williams takes three games on the spin to lead this final for the first time.
First set: Kerber 2-2 Williams* (*denotes next server)
Other names in the Royal Box this afternoon include Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Virginia Wade, Emma Watson and Thandie Newton, while Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton are guests in the Williams box. Nods of approval when Williams ups the ante, stepping into court and stepping up the power. 0-15. 0-30. 0-40. Three break points. Kerber clatters a backhand long and Williams is back on level terms.
First set: *Kerber 2-1 Williams (*denotes next server)
Williams will feel less wobbly after getting on the board with a hold to 30. She settles the game with an arrow of a backhand down the line. Cue applause from Meghan. Williams was a guest at the royal wedding in May (and, ever the competitor, reportedly beat the other guests in a game of beer pong), and now it’s the Duchess of Sussex’s turn to support her friend. The Duchess of Cambridge is also in the Royal Box this afternoon. Royalty watching tennis royalty.
First set: Kerber 2-0 Williams* (*denotes next server)
If Kerber is able to engage Williams in plenty of long exchanges – like she did on that break point – she has a real chance of beating Williams. The German’s looking so calm, gliding to 40-15, while Williams is left chastising herself after hitting long on game point. Kerber consolidates the break.
First set: *Kerber 1-0 Williams (*denotes next server)
Williams starts her chase for another piece of history by taking the opening point. And the second, when Kerber clunks long. Williams lands her third consecutive first serve but goes on to tug a backhand wide. 30-15. 30-all after another backhand error from Williams, a tight shot which drops right into the bottom of the net. Kerber carves out an early break point. 30-40. Williams goes for the one-two punch but Kerber soaks up the pressure, showing tremendous defence in a long rally, and Williams whacks a forehand into the net! Kerber gets off to the perfect start with the break!
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This is a great clash in styles: puncher v counterpuncher, power v speed, the best server of the tournament v the best receiver. Kerber will need to mix things up with plenty of slice, short balls and slow balls to disrupt Williams’s rhythm. With all the top-10 seeds going out, this is arguably the best match-up we could have had.
“We had so many great matches in the last years,” said Kerber in the build-up to this final. “To seeing her back, it’s great. Yeah, I know that she is always pushing you to the limits to play your best tennis. This is the only chance to beat her.”
Tik! Tok! Tikity! Tok! They’re warming up. As for their head-to-head, Williams leads 6-2 but Kerber won’t be scared; she has defeated the American at a grand slam before, in the 2016 Australian Open final.
Kader Nouni will be the chair umpire for today's women's final. Also known as "The Voice" because of his baritone tones. Seems the right narrator for an occasion as grand as this one
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) July 14, 2018
The coin toss, which is being performed by the 11-year-old Tia Clarke. Kerber calls heads. It’s heads. The German opts to receive.
A special job for a very special 11-year-old.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
Tia Clarke will toss the coin ahead of the #Wimbledon ladies' singles final today - and she's going for a special technique... pic.twitter.com/UItbJZwbVP
Here they come, making their way through the corridors of the All England Club. Williams, headphones on, strides ahead of her opponent. They’re both given a bouquet of flowers before walking on court to a tremendous ovation. The camera pans to Meghan Markle for the first of probably 783 times this afternoon. Most spectators have returned to their seats having taken a break after Djokovic’s win.
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The players should be on court very soon. While we wait, some highlights of the 2016 Wimbledon final between Williams and Kerber:
A cut and paste of my preamble from earlier if you haven’t read it:
Ten months ago Serena Williams suffered life-threatening complications after giving birth to her daughter, Olympia. Today the 36-year-old reaches for an eighth Wimbledon title that would equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 grand slam wins.
Only 10 months ago. It’s worth repeating. Williams has made a habit of making the seemingly impossible possible during her career, so perhaps it’s easy to underestimate the difficulty of what she’s achieved by reaching the final.
The American was bedridden for six weeks after an emergency caesarean section last September and needed several procedures after blood clots settled on her lungs. “It’s no secret I had a super tough delivery,” Williams said after her semi-final win on Thursday. “I lost count after, like, four surgeries. It was just routine every day. There was a time I could barely walk to my mailbox. A lot of people were saying: ‘Oh, she should be in the final.’ For me it’s such a pleasure and a joy because less than a year ago I was going through so much.”
In her fourth tournament back, she has looked fit and focused with a fierce desire to win the title for her daughter, gaining momentum with every match and dropping only one set. These aren’t baby steps she’s taking, these are giant strides.
But Angelique Kerber is determined to be more than a footnote in Williams’s Wimbledon story; the German has her own comeback to cap. Kerber enjoyed a superb 2016, winning the Australian and US Opens and finishing runner-up at Wimbledon (she played Williams in both the Australian and Wimbledon finals). She rose to No 1 in the world but seemed to regard her status as a millstone round her neck rather than a milestone. Weighed down by the expectation and attention, she slumped last year, but is now close to her 2016 form. The 11th seed has gone under the Wimbledon radar slightly because of all the headline-grabbing shocks around her but she withstood everything Jelena Ostapenko threw at her in the semi-finals and is determined to show she isn’t a one-season wonder.
Williams’s nine previous Wimbledon finals:
2002 ✅
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
2003 ✅
2004 ❌
2008 ❌
2009 ✅
2010 ✅
2012 ✅
2015 ✅
2016 ✅
...2018?https://t.co/IoT3OlhfkX
And if you’re not shaking from the memory of Anderson and Isner’s serve-a-thon yesterday, you may enjoy this:
Pre-match reading:
The roof was closed for Djokovic v Nadal. Which may seem bizarre given it’s about 28 degrees outside. But it’s because the roof was also shut for the first part of their match last night. Anyway, it’s now being opened for the women’s final ...
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Nadal slips on the grass at 0-30 on his serve and he slides 0-40 down, three match points. He misses his first serve, makes the second, but a few shots later Nadal hoiks a forehand wide! Djokovic prevails 10-8 in the final set after five hours and 15 minutes, and the three-time Wimbledon champion is a grand slam finalist for the first time since 2016! After injury and a loss of form, he’s close to reacquainting himself with greatness. For Nadal, it’s his first defeat in a Wimbledon semi-final. Ever the gentleman, the world No 1 waits for the victor before walking off court. And breathe. We’ve got around 30 minutes now before Williams and Kerber will be out for the final ...
"Novak Djokovic is in the #Wimbledon final again"
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
Welcome back, @DjokerNole... pic.twitter.com/rY37ARgsT9
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Djokovic saves three break points to hold for 8-7. Nadal saves one match point with an absolutely nerveless drop shot to hold for 8-8. A drop shot on match point. That probably had even Williams and Kerber clapping in the locker room. This couldn’t be another 26-24. Could it ...?
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Take nothing away from Nadal and Djokovic, though. This is enthralling, and I don’t think there’s any desire on the crowd’s part for it to finish. Mind you Billie Jean King doesn’t look too impressed in the Royal Box. She’s waiting for Williams and Kerber ...
All of us right now...#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/hPQ9ansHI1
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
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Ho hum. It’s now 26 hours since the men’s semi-finals began at 1pm yesterday ...
Longest semifinals in #Wimbledon history, updated:
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 14, 2018
1. Anderson d. Isner (6h36m) 2018
2. Djokovic vs Nadal (4h47m and counting) 2018
3. Djokovic d. del Potro (4h44m) 2013
4. Becker d. Lendl (4h01m) 1989
Yes, the two longest semifinals ever both came this year. How lucky are we?
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Of course Nadal and Djokovic were waiting in the locker room for an hour or six yesterday, so I’m sure they can sympathise with the situation Williams and Kerber are in this afternoon. Nadal is serving at 7-6 down, with the match only a few minutes away from becoming the second longest semi-final in Wimbledon history.
As one of you suggested yesterday: If only there were a device whereby we could break a tie at six games all...some sort of abbreviated, representative mini-set, consisting of a dozen points or so... #Wimbledon
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) July 14, 2018
23 minutes more for the two longest semifinals in #Wimbledon history to have both come this year.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 14, 2018
I think Rafa and Novak are up for the task...
Nadal has just missed two break points that would have left him serving for the match in the final set. Instead Djokovic holds for 5-4. You can follow the denouement with Will here.
Headed home. I appreciate all the encouraging messages from everyone. Congrats to @KAndersonATP on the win and best of luck in the final. More importantly, thank you for your class and humility in victory. @Wimbledon see you next year. Sorry for screwing the schedule up today 😳 pic.twitter.com/qlbFcoyl6z
— John Isner (@JohnIsner) July 14, 2018
Much has been said since last night about rights and wrongs of the scheduling. A final without a set start time is hard on Williams and Kerber, who have worked so hard to get here. But because Djokovic and Nadal started on Centre, they have to finish there. Given one of them has to play again tomorrow, it wasn’t really an option for them to come on after the women. And after last night’s 11pm finish, they couldn’t have resumed any earlier than 1pm. Perhaps what can be learned from this is that fifth-set tie-breaks must be considered by Wimbledon. If Anderson v Isner had been settled at that stage rather than at 26-24, we wouldn’t be in this mess today.
Preamble
Ten months ago Serena Williams suffered life-threatening complications after giving birth to her daughter, Olympia. Today the 36-year-old reaches for an eighth Wimbledon title that would equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 grand slam wins.
Only 10 months ago. It’s worth repeating. Williams has made a habit of making the seemingly impossible possible during her career, so perhaps it’s easy to underestimate the difficulty of what she’s achieved by reaching the final.
The American was bedridden for six weeks after an emergency caesarean section last September and needed several procedures after blood clots settled on her lungs. “It’s no secret I had a super tough delivery,” Williams said after her semi-final win on Thursday. “I lost count after, like, four surgeries. It was just routine every day. There was a time I could barely walk to my mailbox. A lot of people were saying: ‘Oh, she should be in the final.’ For me it’s such a pleasure and a joy because less than a year ago I was going through so much.”
In her fourth tournament back, she has looked fit and focused with a fierce desire to win the title for her daughter, gaining momentum with every match and dropping only one set. These aren’t baby steps she’s taking, these are giant strides.
But Angelique Kerber is determined to be more than a footnote in Williams’s Wimbledon story; the German has her own comeback to cap. Kerber enjoyed a superb 2016, winning the Australian and US Opens and finishing runner-up at Wimbledon (she played Williams in both the Australian and Wimbledon finals). She rose to No 1 in the world but seemed to regard her status as a millstone round her neck rather than a milestone. Weighed down by the expectation and attention, she slumped last year, but is now close to her 2016 form. The 11th seed has gone under the Wimbledon radar slightly because of all the headline-grabbing shocks around her but she withstood everything Jelena Ostapenko threw at her in the semi-finals and is determined to show she isn’t a one-season wonder.
The final was supposed to get under way at: 2pm BST. It will now start whenever Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal stop taking lumps out of each other in the second part of their semi-final.
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