The champion made a comeback in second set by improving her game. Serena took advantage of Kerber’s double fault and broke her to lead 3-1. From here, Serena forced the pace and Kerber wilted. In the second set, Serena’s unforced were restricted to 5 compared to Kerber’s 7. With set parity restored; the match went to the decider.
While Serena came closer to winning her 22nd Grand Slam title, Kerber had other ideas. She won the opening game and broke Serena in second game to go 2-0 up. However, Serena broke right back and thereafter, they kept holding their serve until the fifth game. The sixth was an epic and things changed from there. Serena’s movements became tardy and she lost the first point. Then after winning the next, she mistimed a backhand volley to trail 15-40. Now Kerber had two break points. Serena’s first service was a fault but the second service followed a long rally that refused to end. Finally Serena’s power was too much for Kerber as the German lost one opportunity. Next, Serena served an ace and game came to deuce. With the defending champion going in the error mode, Kerber got her third break point but another ace from Serena brought it to deuce again. One more point for Serena gave her a chance to survive. When everyone thought that the game was going Serena’s way, a double fault from the no.1 player and an erratic shot presented the fourth break point for Kerber. But the German couldn’t get the break as Serena continued to mix errors with brilliance. The American’s sixth double fault gave the fifth break opportunity to Kerber and this time she didn’t miss. The 4-2 lead for Kerber at this stage was an ominous signal for Serena.
After next two games went on serves, it was crunch time with Kerber serving at 5-3 for the biggest win of her life. Signs of nervousness showed as the German went down 0-30 but on next point, Serena’s backhand error made it 15-30. Then Serena won a baseline rally and held two break points. The tension at Rod Laver Arena was palpable. Kerber managed to save one but lost the second and Serena survived. As the American prepared to serve in trying to save the match, Kerber pushed her as the scores reached 0-30. But Serena pulled back to make it 30-30 and with a long rally ending in her favor, Serena almost saved herself with a game-point in her hand. But Kerber had not given up; she produced a great service return for deuce. On the next point, when Serena sent a straightforward forehand into the net, it was match point for Kerber. It became unbelievably easy for the German on the next point, when her return of service was met with Serena’s forehand that went miles over the line. Kerber dropped herself on the turf in stunned disbelief. Then she stood up, went to Serena across the net for the handshake but couldn’t prevent tears of joy from flowing. A new champion was born on Saturday.