Serena Loses the Final in Straight Sets

Angelique Kerber wins title as Novak Djokovic advances for final with Kevin Anderson
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 14, 2018 12:00 PM CDT
Serena Loses the Final in Straight Sets
Germany's Angelique Kerber returns the ball to Serena Williams of the United States during their women's singles final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday July 14, 2018.   (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)

Angelique Kerber won her first Wimbledon championship by stopping Serena Williams' bid for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title, the AP reports. Kerber played cleanly as can be, covering the court so well and picking her spots for big shots, in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Williams in Saturday's final. It is the 30-year-old Kerber's third Grand Slam title. She also beat Williams in the Australian Open final in 2016, then won that year's US Open. Williams is a seven-time Wimbledon champion and her 23 major trophies rank second all-time to Margaret Court. This final came just 10½ months after the 36-year-old American gave birth to a daughter and dealt with a serious health scare. She was playing in the fourth tournament of her comeback.

Earlier Saturday, Novak Djokovic sent the strongest signal yet he is back at the top of tennis by reaching his fifth Wimbledon final with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9), 3-6, 10-8 victory over rival Rafael Nadal in a match suspended overnight, per the AP. "It really could have gone either ways," says Djokovic, who is bidding for a fourth championship at the All England Club and 13th Grand Slam title overall. "Basically until the last shot, I didn't know if I was going to win." Undaunted by losing a lead and being forced to an extra set, Djokovic saved break points at 4-all and 7-all in the fifth, before breaking Nadal at love to end things. Djokovic will face Kevin Anderson in Sunday's final. Anderson beat John Isner in a 6½-hour semifinal that ended at 26-24 fifth set Friday night, pushing back the start of Djokovic vs. Nadal.

(More tennis stories.)

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