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Angelique Kerber stuns Serena Williams to claim Australian Open title – as it happened

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The German pulled off an incredible 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over the world No1 to secure her first grand slam title and deny Williams a record-equalling 22nd

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Sat 30 Jan 2016 06.34 ESTFirst published on Sat 30 Jan 2016 02.30 EST

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And some final thoughts from me. An extraordinary performance from Kerber, a popular first-time grand slam champion, who got off to such a strong start and refused to be intimidated by the world No1 even when the match moved to its climax. Yes, Williams’s play was patchy, her serve was off and her tactic to come to the net didn’t work, but Kerber took full advantage and remained consistent throughout, showing tremendous defence and pulling off some stunning passing shots. Perhaps Kerber’s win can serve as inspiration for Andy Murray tomorrow against Novak Djokovic. Do join us then for live coverage; in the meantime I’ll leave you with Kevin Mitchell’s match report from Melbourne. We’ll also have a report on Jamie Murray’s men’s doubles final, which is just getting under way. Thanks for reading. Bye!

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Some thoughts/reactions on Twitter:

WOW. WOW. WOW. Incredible courage from Kerber. Fantastic effort! #AusOpen

— Anne Keothavong (@annekeothavong) January 30, 2016

Last two grand slam titles won by Flavia Pennetta and Angelique Kerber. Amazing

— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) January 30, 2016

Amazing performance by both @angiekerber & @serenawilliams @AustralianOpen !What a match #angiekerber !U deserve this trophy #ausopenfinale

— Marion bartoli (@bartoli_marion) January 30, 2016

I said before the match Kerber would have to play the match of her life to win- she did. Wow- congrats!And Serena- what a gracious champion!

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) January 30, 2016

Kerber has done it!! #AusOpen https://t.co/uLE08xWLnu

— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2016

Fittingly for Serena, ended with error at net. Disastrous tactics all night for her to uncharacteristically to come forward so much.#AusOpen

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 30, 2016

Kerber returned brilliantly, served well-both mandatory 2 upset Serena. But last pt Serena missed super easy volley, will always remember

— Matt Cronin (@TennisReporters) January 30, 2016
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Trophy time. Williams comes up first to collect the runners-up plate, and manages to keep a smile on her face throughout her speech:

Thank you for tonight guys, it was a great match. Angie congratulations, you did do well, you really deserved it, I really hope you enjoy this moment. I would like to thank my team and of course the crowd. I really enjoyed myself this whole time so thank you very much.

Then comes the champion, as Kerber holds aloft the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. She can barely breathe when she comes to speak:

Serena, you are an inspiration, an unbelievable great person, so congrats for everything you did already. In the first round I was match point down so I was already one leg on the plane to Germany. I got a second chance and I take my chance. To win it, my dream came true tonight. My whole life I was working really hard, now I’m here and I can say I’m a grand slam champion. I have the best family, the best team in the world. I really enjoy this moment. Thank you so much. The best two weeks of my life, my career. I had goosebumps when I was playing. See you next year.

Apparently Kerber said she’d jump in the Yarra River a la Jim Courier if she won the title. She’s already welling up though as she finishes her speech and holds court on Rod Laver with the trophy.

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Wow. That was only Williams’s fifth defeat in a grand slam final. She’d won 21 out of 25 before today. It’s the first time she’s lost the final set in a major final. Kerber had never even been in a grand slam final before today. Kerber has confounded the stats by playing the match of her life on the biggest stage of her life.

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Gracious from Williams, who comes straight over to Kerber’s side of the court to congratulate the victor. The pair embrace, Williams has some warm words for the German, who then resumes her celebrations by going to her players’ box. Williams can’t watch as she sits slumped in her chair. It was Roberta Vinci who ended Williams’s hopes of matching Graf’s grand slam record at the US Open; now it’s Kerber who has put history on hold in Australia. Unglaublich. I’m sure a certain German is watching in Las Vegas with a smile on her face.

Serena Williams is gracious in defeat and embraces Kerber. Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images
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Kerber wins the Australian Open title 6-4, 3-6, 6-4!

Kerber’s face has the expression of a woman who thinks her moment has passed. She needs to shake that off, because if she were to win this game, she would still be the Australian Open champion. She manages to quickly get herself out of the funk by taking the first point. And the second! 0-30. Williams opts for her go-to serve down the T. Ace. 15-30. Williams goes for a rocket of a serve out wide but misses. The second serve lands in, the pair engage in a lengthy duel from the back of the court, Kerber, perhaps waiting for Williams to miss rather than going for a winner herself, retreats well beyond the baseline and is eventually beaten. 30-all. Will it be game point or will it be match point? Game point, when Williams sets the point up with a gutsy forehand down the line and then goes t’other way for the winner. 40-30. Now Kerber is behind in the game, she finds it within herself to attack. Deuce. Kerber goes toe-to-toe with Williams in a breathtaking cross-court exchange and brings up championship point! Williams comes to the net but inexplicably misses the volley which loops long! I can’t believe I’m writing this but Angelique Kerber is the Australian Open champion! Yes, Angelique Kerber is the Australian Open champion!

Kerber falls to the ground after winning. Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
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Third set: *Williams 4-6, 6-3, 4-5 Kerber (*denotes next server)

Kerber held to love when she served out the first set. That’s not going to happen here. Williams forges 0-15 ahead. How heavy must Kerber’s racket be feeling now? Serving for a first grand slam title at the age of 28 having never even been in a major final before. It probably weighs about 500kg. Make that 750kg as Williams gets to 0-30. Kerber comes back to 15-30 but Williams is undeterred. 15-40, two break-back points. Williams’s return clips and net and trickles back on to her side of the court! 30-40. The match clock ticks to exactly two hours as Williams breaks! What guts and determination.

Serena Williams fights to stay in the final. Photograph: Graham Denholm/Getty Images
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Third set: Williams 4-6, 6-3, 3-5 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

So after an hour and 53 minutes Williams must hold serve to stay in the final. The most inauspicious of starts at Williams double faults. 0-15. Williams sends another serve into the net on the next point but lands her second, a lengthy rally plays out, Williams bides her time, before putting away the winner. 15-all. Williams crashes away a smash to get to 30-15. Williams is staying back here, not coming into the net like she has for much of the match, perhaps she’s wisened up to Kerber and doesn’t want to be passed. But Kerber wins the baseline exchange, 30-all. What a big point this is. Williams’s serve comes to her rescue, 40-30. Game. Williams has forced Kerber to serve this out.

Third set: *Williams 4-6, 6-3, 2-5 Kerber (*denotes next server)

Often Williams, when broken, is at her most dangerous. But Kerber is refusing to be intimidated. The German moves 30-0 ahead, make that 40-0. Make that game as Williams sends a wayward shot wide. A love game to back up the break and Kerber is only a game away from stunning Serena Williams and winning the Australian Open title!

Angelique Kerber celebrates and takes control of the third set. Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP
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Third set: Williams 4-6, 6-3, 2-4 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

A late and loose shot from Williams, 0-15. A cross-court rally ensues before Williams decides to mix things up by going down the line. 15-all. Williams thinks she’s hit an ace to get to 30-all but misses by a fraction. And then it’s 15-40, two break points! Williams is in command as Kerber scrambles left and right and left and right and left and right – the longest rally of the final at 19 strokes – the crowd are oooohing and aaaaahing and finally Williams deals the killer blow. 30-40. Ace, deuce. Williams hasn’t been able to rely on her serve in this match but it got her out of a hole there. Deuce.

But Williams finds herself in another one when Kerber comes up with a forehand pass. Williams just isn’t winning enough points at the net. Another break point, advantage Kerber. Williams’s backhand looks like it may whistle just wide but it lands in for a winner. Deuce No2. Advantage Williams. A feathery drop-shot from Kerber, deuce No3. This game has been going for nearly eight minutes now. Could it be decisive? Perhaps, as a fourth double fault from Williams of the day brings up a fourth break point of the game. Kerber, uncharacteristically, looks hesitant, and backs off a few feet beyond the baseline before netting. Deuce No4. Advantage Williams. Another Kerber drop-shot! It’s deuce No5. Another Williams double fault! Break point No5. Williams unleashes some bombs from the back of the court but then self implodes as she goes long! Kerber has the break!

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Third set: *Williams 4-6, 6-3, 2-3 Kerber (*denotes next server)

A wonderful winner from Williams on the third point, which brings up 15-30. Another beautiful strike and it’s 30-all. If she can do this consistently in this set surely the title will be hers. But then she’s all at sea on the next point. It’s so hit and miss today. 40-30. And Kerber holds to regain the advantage.

Angelique Kerber makes another return as she leads in the third set. Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA
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Third set: Williams 4-6, 6-3, 2-2 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

Kerber pulls off a passing shot to get to 0-15. Williams, one minute looking so calm, the next so exasperated, hauls herself to 15-all and then unleashes one of her biggest “COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNS” of the day. I think she made herself a little hoarse there because the “COME ON” that follows the next point is a little squeaky. So, 30-15. A backhand winner deep to Kerber’s backhand wing makes it 40-15. And it’s soon game.

Third set: *Williams 4-6, 6-3, 1-2 Kerber (*denotes next server)

A wounded Williams gets to 0-30. And then 15-40. Two break-back points. Perhaps that break almost came too soon in the set for Kerber. Williams goes for too much on the first break point, and flashes high and wide. 30-40. A second-serve chance for Williams on the second break point, there’s nowhere near enough on it from Kerber, giving Williams the chance to tee up the cross-court backhand. Kerber isn’t getting that back into play. We’re back on serve.

Third set: Williams 4-6, 6-3, 0-2 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

Williams has never lost the third set in a grand slam final. But she’s in danger of going a break down in this one. 0-30. Kerber is scrambling around all over the shop, moving back and forth and this way and thataway as she withstands the Williams assault and then somehow pulls off a winner! Even Williams applauds while simultaneously wincing. 0-40, three break points. Kerber sets the point up with a strong backhand, Williams gets it back but Kerber sends another backhand down the line – this one a winner – and Kerber breaks! That’s eight out of nine points in this set.

Serena Williams reacts as she struggles at the beginning of the final set. Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
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Third set: *Williams 4-6, 6-3, 0-1 Kerber (*denotes next server)

Both players are back on court after a quick break, and Kerber opens play in this decider. I’m sure the German will be pleased she’s serving first, given the way she’s been serving today. She rattles off a quick first point, and a speedy second too. 30-0. An ace out wide – the German has displayed such variety on serve today – and it’s 40-0. The pair go at each other cross-court, Williams on her forehand, Kerber on her backhand, before they switch positions and Williams’s backhand trades blows with Kerber’s forehand. Williams takes the point but doesn’t win the wider war as Kerber calmly takes the game by threading a forehand down the line with Williams stranded at the net.

One set for the #AusOpen title.

"Just pretend you're playing Sharapova!" shouts a Serena fan.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 30, 2016
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So who do you have in this final set? Of course Williams is the favourite from here on in, but can she ignore the weight of history on her racket to get over the line? Kerber has showed enough about her in this final to suggest if Williams wobbles, she will take advantage.

#AusOpen Final headed to 3rd set? Grand Slam 3-Set Records:
Kerber: 17-15
Williams: 56-20 (8-0 in Finals)

— Kevin Fischer (@Kfish_WTA) January 30, 2016

Williams wins the second set 6-3!

At 15-all, Williams flashes an ace down the T. She’s now level in the ace charts, 3-3. And she’s ahead in the game; 30-15. Which soon becomes 40-15. Two set points. Williams again goes down the middle on the serve but it skids long. She makes the second serve, is pushing and probing from the back of the court, and Kerber nets! This final is going to a deciding set ...

2nd set Serena 16 winners 5 unforced.

And there you have it.

Let's play 3

— Patrick McEnroe (@PatrickMcEnroe) January 30, 2016

Second set: *Williams 4-6, 5-3 Kerber (*denotes next server)

Kerber falls 0-30 down. Williams would surely like to break here, not only to finish this set but because it would mean she’d be serving first in the deciding set. But Kerber rattles off four points on the spin and Williams will have to serve this out.

Second set: Williams 4-6, 5-2 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

Williams holds to 30, finishing things off with a volley which she just about manages to skew over the net and into the service box for a winner. The crowd gasp. They’ve been fairly balanced in their support for both players, by the way. I’m sure they’d like to see Williams equal some history but Kerber is getting plenty of backing as the underdog. Kerber must hold serve to stay in this set.

Serena plays a forehand return at the Rod Laver Arena. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
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Second set: *Williams 4-6, 4-2 Kerber (*denotes next server)

The movement from Williams appears more assured, the racket is moving more fluently, and she takes the first point of the game to move 0-15 ahead. Kerber then nudges 30-15 up with the help of Hawk-Eye. Williams comes back to 30-all. Kerber responds to get to 40-30. And the seventh seed takes the game with a piercing backhand down the line. Cue a celebratory fist pump and “COME ON!” (or “KOMM SCHON!”).

Second set: Williams 4-6, 4-1 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

The answer would appear to be no when Williams slips 0-30 down. But a first ace of the day for Williams helps her recover to 40-30. She then whistles away a forehand winner to bring up the game. The break is consolidated. Is she starting to make her move?

Second set: *Williams 4-6, 3-1 Kerber (*denotes next server)

Kerber’s first loose service game: two double faults and an error and it’s 0-40, three break points. Kerber opens the court out in some style, before planting the winner. 15-40, but there are still another two break points to come. Williams gets it all wrong and it’s 30-40. Two down, one to go. Kerber misses her first serve, she slides a weak second serve to Williams’s backhand, Kerber does well to get it back and return to almost level terms in the point, but Williams prevails. She has the break but that was as much to do with a drop in her opponent’s play as it was with anything she did; can Williams find some consistency and take the initiative?

Second set: Williams 4-6, 2-1 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

From 30-all, Williams holds. But it’s not straightforward. At least her forehand shows up to give her the game.

Second set: *Williams 4-6, 1-1 Kerber (*denotes next server)

Much credit must go to Kerber for her consistency and the way in which she is chasing everything down. But as is almost always the case in Williams’s matches, this is still on the world No1’s racket. You feel Williams, with her erratic forehand and fumbling footwork, is playing not only Kerber but also history and that Graf record. Kerber holds, sending down her second ace of the day in the process. And here’s a surprising stat: the ace count currently reads 2-0 in Kerber’s favour. Williams, the best server in the women’s game, isn’t even on the board.

Kerber stretches to make a forehand return. Photograph: Aaron Favila/AP
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Second set: Williams 4-6, 1-0 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

Williams regroups to hold comfortably at the start of the second set.

Kerber wins the first set 6-4!

Williams, her feet planted too firmly in the ground, slips 15-0 down. Some tremendous defence from Kerber, Williams is at the net, but the world No1 can’t dig the ball out from the ground. 30-0. Kerber is potentially two points away from a one-set lead. Make that one point away because it’s 40-0. Williams looks to have the initiative on set point when Kerber throws in a short ball, but Kerber again scrambles so well to get back into the rally, and eventually Williams prods into the net! Well, well. Kerber moves a set ahead and it’s the first Williams has dropped in this tournament!

Serena Williams loses the first set with 23 errors. Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images
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First set: Williams 4-5 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

Another drive volley chance for Williams and another miss. She’s almost trying too hard, forcing the issue, rather than playing instinctively. An angry Williams batters the ball away for a winner to level at 15-all. Williams is now roaring herself on during the points, screaming after unleashing her shots, and Kerber is looking at the umpire as if to say: “is this legal?” Williams, remember, did get penalised during her 2011 US Open final defeat to Sam Stosur for celebrating before a point had finished. Williams holds to 30. Kerber will serve for the first set.

First set: *Williams 3-5 Kerber (*denotes next server)

At 15-all, Williams misses another gimme down the line on the forehand side. At the moment the pressure of attempting to equal Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 grand slam titles seems to be telling more on Williams than the pressure of appearing in a first major final is on Kerber. Has Williams started having flashbacks of the Roberta Vinci US Open match yet? Her mother, Oracene, winces in the stands as Kerber consolidates the break to force Williams to serve to stay in this set.

Angelique Kerber breaks Serena’s serve again. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP
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First set: Williams 3-4 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

While I was perusing Twitter, Williams goes from a position of relative comfort to break point down. Gah! I’m not entirely sure how that happened, but having looked more at ease in that previous game, she seems a little edgy again, and her footwork lets her down. 30-40. Williams drills long on the drive volley – what a miss – and Kerber once again nudges a break ahead!

Unless Serena blasts a return winner, of course. 3-3, back on serve. #AusOpen

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 30, 2016

SW21 gets the break back on Kerber Baby who's 2nd serv is batting practice

— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) January 30, 2016

First set: *Williams 3-3 Kerber (*denotes next server)

Kerber’s slider second serve is not much of a weapon. You feel if Williams gets enough opportunities on that she can cause some damage. But the forehand isn’t quite firing yet. Then just to disprove my point, Williams wallops a forehand winner. Thanks Serena. 30-all. She has a chance to bring up break point, the ball drops short and Williams looks almost certain to put away the forehand winner, but she nets. Her family and coach groan in the stands. A terrific point at deuce, the pair go at each other from the back of the court and then Kerber blinks first. Advantage Williams, her first break point of this final. She treats a second serve with absolute disdain and thumps away a winner down the line. There’s the break back and there’s another fist pump and “COME ON!!!!!!” Williams looks to be in business.

First set: Williams 2-3 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

Two points into Williams’s service game and there’s already a sniff of another break at 0-30. Williams lets out some frustration by punishing the short ball and screaming her first “COME ON” of the proceedings. She wins the next point and roars another “COME ON” for good measure. 30-all. And there’s a third successive point for Williams and a third successive “COME ON”. Williams, so quiet for the first few games, is fired up. But then perhaps she lets the adrenaline get the better of her as she miscues. Deuce. Williams then bamboozles Kerber with a well-disguised drop-shot. Kerber didn’t even move. Advantage Williams. Game. The world No1 keeps her arrears to the single break.

A struggling Serena Williams screams as she celebrates a point. Photograph: Aaron Favila/AP
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First set: *Williams 1-3 Kerber (*denotes next server)

So what response from Williams? She dispatches a lethal cross-court forehand to get to 15-all. But from the sublime to the ridiculous as she gets her footwork all wrong and loops long. 30-15 to Kerber. Williams slaps into the net and Kerber has two game points. Williams takes aim at a toothless second serve and pierces Kerber with a return winner down the line. 40-30. Williams gets a reprieve in the following point when her shot clips the net and trickles over, but Kerber chases it down before sending down a smash. The break is consolidated. You wouldn’t know this is Kerber’s first grand slam final.

First set: Williams 1-2 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

At 15-all, Kerber whistles a backhand cross-court winner past Williams with a nonchalant flick of the wrist. Even Williams applauds. 15-30. And look here, it’s 15-40. The first break points go to Kerber. What can she do? The pair trade blows from the back of the court, and then Williams goes a fraction long! There’s the first break of the final and it’s not gone to Williams. Game on.

Angelique Kerber fires over a backhand against Serena Williams. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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First set: *Williams 1-1 Kerber (*denotes next server)

Kerber takes the first point of the game and her first of the match. The crowd breathe a sigh of relief. But Williams, prowling inside the baseline on the second serve, is already looking dangerous on the return. 15-30. Williams then bludgeons a backhand well into the tramlines and Kerber sends down a first ace; it wasn’t the fastest but Williams got nowhere near it. 40-30 then turns into game. Composed from Kerber; she’ll be happy with that service start.

First set: Williams 1-0 Kerber* (*denotes next server)

So here comes Serena. She looks less than assured as she steps up to the plate to serve, dropping the ball and having to chase after it, but it’s all a front. Williams sends a strong serve out wide which gives her the initiative in the point; she then comes into the net to finish things off. 15-0, make that 30-0. Which turns into 40-0 when Kerber clonks long after a baseline rally. An unreturned serve from Williams and that’s the game.

A pre-match email. “Morning Katy,” chirps Simon McMahon. “As someone once said, now is not the time for sound bites, but I feel the hand of history on our shoulder. There’s no way Serena will not win today. Is there?”

Tik, tok, tikity, tok, the players are warming up, Williams once again wearing bright yellow, Kerber clad in a coral/red number. Kerber won the toss and has opted to receive. A sign of nerves on the German’s part that she doesn’t want to serve? It’s a fairly breezy evening in Melbourne, so that could make Williams’s serve slightly less of a weapon than usual. There again, Williams could probably play in a hurricane and still blow her opponent off court.

And here come the players, waiting patiently outside the locker room before navigating their way through the bowels of the Rod Laver Arena. Kerber, head bowed, walks a few steps ahead of Williams before being announced to the capacity crowd. Then comes Williams. Not sure who edged the cheers there; it was fairly even I’d say.

Williams says:

I would say this is probably the best slam I’ve played in a year, and I’ve won a lot in a year. I know my practices are better. Hopefully I’m playing better. So I definitely can play more consistent and more mentally stable, so to say.

I’m the favourite. I was the favourite in New York. I feel like I could have done better in New York but that was a learning experience. So I’m going to hopefully take that to the court for not only this tournament but for the rest of these slams.

I thought [Kerber] played unbelievable in that match [in Cincinnati in 2012]. That’s something that I’ll never forget. I just remember her serving really well, her moving well, her being determined to win that. I think from then on out I’ve been really focused that she’s someone that I, and everyone, really has to take very seriously.

Kerber says:

I have actually nothing to lose. I can go out there and try to play like I’m playing, without pressure, without nothing. I think when you ask a lot of people, I think most will say: ‘OK, Serena will win.’ But this is the challenge I can take.

I don’t have so much pressure like she has. I know I can lose the match. That’s why I’m going out there to try to win it.

I think I grow in the last few years to be a top-10 player. Now I’m back in the top five [off the back of her run in Melbourne]. I think I showed everybody that I deserve it. That’s a good feeling.

Stat attack.

The head to head:

2014 Stanford final Williams beat Kerber 7-6, 6-3

2014 Miami quarter-finals Williams beat Kerber 6-2, 6-2

2013 WTA Championships round robin Williams beat Kerber 6-3, 6-1

2012 WTA Championships round robin Williams beat Kerber 6-4, 6-1

2012 Cincinnati Masters quarter-finals Kerber beat Williams 6-4, 6-4

2007 US Open first round Williams beat Kerber 6-3, 7-5

Williams’s route to the final:

First round: beat Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5

Second round: beat Hsieh Su-wei 6-1, 6-2

Third round: beat Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-1

Fourth round: beat Margarita Gasparyan 6-2, 6-1

Quarter-finals: beat Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-1

Semi-finals: beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-4

Kerber’s route to the final:

First round: beat Misaki Doi 6-7, 7-6, 6-3

Second round: beat Alexandra Duigheru 6-2, 6-4

Third round: beat Madison Brengle 6-1, 6-3

Fourth round: beat Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0

Quarter-finals: beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5

Semi-finals: beat Johanna Konta 7-5, 6-2

Preamble

Hello and welcome to coverage of the Australian Open women’s final between Serena Williams and Johanna Konta sorry Angelique Kerber.

Williams, devastated after falling two wins short of a calendar grand slam at last September’s US Open, did not raise a racket in anger for the rest of the year. Speculation was swirling about a loss of motivation and chronic knee problems, and those concerns continued earlier this month when she failed to finish a match at the Hopman Cup. Some posed the question: was it asking too much of the 34-year-old to regain the incredible intensity she showed for most of 2015 for another assault on the slams in 2016?

More fool those doubters. While Williams has watched inconsistency take grip of the women’s game below her this fortnight, natural order appears to have been restored at the top. After a slightly tentative start in the first round, the world No1 has got stronger and stronger. She is yet to drop a set and dismissed Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarter and semi-finals respectively for the loss of only nine games in total, saying after the Radwanska match that she is playing even better than she did last season. Win today and she’ll draw level with Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 grand slam titles; no doubt victory would also reopen the debate about the possibility of a calendar slam. From the devastation of the US Open to possible domination in Australia and beyond. What a difference four months makes.

So what of Kerber? Seeded seventh, Konta’s semi-final conqueror is appearing in her first grand slam final at the age of 28, reward for a consistent career that has seen her be a regular in the world’s top 10 over the past five years. The left-hander is a solid baseliner, who has beaten Williams only once in six previous meetings – a 6-4, 6-4 upset in Cincinnati in 2012. Kerber saw off the much-fancied Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals before victory over Konta, which drew a congratulatory text from her childhood idol and occasional mentor Graf. No doubt Graf will be hoping her fellow German can do her a favour today by ensuring her grand slam haul remains unequalled.

The players are due on court at: 8.30am GMT, 7.30pm in Melbourne. Don’t be late, wherever you are.

Katy will be with you shortly. Whilst you wait, have a read of Simon Cambers’ preview, as Serena Williams aims for her 22nd grand slam, and Angelique Kerber goes after her first major title.

It was while she was discussing the achievement of reaching her first grand slam final that Angelique Kerber pulled out her phone to check her messages. Among them was a text from Steffi Graf, congratulating her on her effort and wishing her luck for Saturday’s Australian Open final against Serena Williams. On all available evidence, she will need more than luck.

Whether Graf offered her advice on how she might do it, Kerber did not say, but receiving any message from her idol will at least fill the 28-year-old with confidence, even if the odds are very much against her. Kerber turned to Graf last March when her confidence had dipped. A reminder from the former world No1 that she was a good player and doing the right things put her back on track and she is now firmly established back in the top 10.

Should Kerber somehow pull off a massive upset, it will keep Graf one ahead of Williams in the all-time list of grand slam singles winners, with 22 to 21. Beating Williams will surely require something extra special. After a few months off at the end of last year, the American has breezed through the tournament without dropping a set, with only Italy’s Camila Giorgi, in round one, taking more than four games in a set. Kerber has beaten her once, in Cincinnati in 2012, but has not won a set in their five other meetings. Throw in the fact that it is her first grand slam final and the inevitable nerves and the scale of her task is clear.

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