Wimbledon: Kerber in the final: The “half” dream came true

The dream of a perfect German tennis day on the world’s most famous court remained a dream. But Angelique Kerber now has a second chance at Wimbledon immortality in a new final rendezvous with the great Serena Williams after a sovereign, nerve-sparing 6:3, 6:3 victory over Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia).

By Jörg Allmeroth from Wimbledon

The seven-time turf queen from the USA was also the almost logical spoilsport on this historic 12th July, the woman who prevented the black-red-gold miracle on the Centre Court – with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over the brave but hopelessly fighting Julia Görges.

Kerber v Williams – it is the new edition of the highly dramatic 2016 final, in which the German front woman played at eye level with the brawny American and lost in just under two sets. Who will enjoy the reunion will decide from 3 pm on Saturday.

Williams could then celebrate her 24th Grand Slam victory, the first as a mother of course, and the eighth in Wimbledon. And Kerber could follow in the footsteps of her great mentor Steffi Graf, who raised the trophy for the last and seventh time 22 years ago. “I was always convinced that Angie would regain her former strength,” Graf had already told this newspaper before this Wimbledon tournament, “it’s an impressive series she plays”.

Kerber’s resurrection this season culminates in Wimbledon, the largest, most important, most prestigious venue in the scene. The Kieler had experienced her dark year 2017 as a “brutal crash”, the disappointments at the major competitions, the expulsion from the top ten of the world rankings. But now, on Church Road, she celebrated a triumph full of satisfaction with the recent entry into the final, which was able to take on the world rankings with her great Grand Slam victories in Melbourne and New York and her leap to number 1.

“She has fought her way back to the top with unbelievable determination, she is back with the best,” said DTB women’s head Barbara Rittner after the cool semi-final appearance of her long-time German leader, “in Wimbledon she has been my favourite number one for quite some time”.

Even before reaching the final, Kerber had already shone with the semi-final advance in Melbourne at the beginning of the season and his participation in the quarter-finals in Paris – this consistency at a high level among the majors is also a reminder of their golden times. “It’s a great satisfaction how I shot it all,” said Kerber on Thursday, after her mostly stress-free detour to the central stage of Wimbledon.

Kerber seemed unaffected by the harakiri tennis that her opponent Ostapenko hit her. With her wild swings, the Latvian scored some amazing goals from time to time, but last year’s French Open winner was far more often a loser. “It makes it hard to find the rhythm,” Kerber said afterwards, “but I kept my cool, didn’t drive myself crazy.”

Kerber kept the ball solid in the game, but deliberately set her counterattack and managed a break against the erratic rival for the first time in the first set 4:3. After that, almost nothing worked at all at Ostapenko, it was an almost pitiful crash that the Centre Court visitors experienced. “She simply has no plan B if her quick shots don’t work,” said observer Martina Navratilova, “Kerber seems much more mature, clarified, mature.”

Kerber won the first round with 6:3, with a sensational rate of just two mistakes. And then she quickly and consistently took the lead in the second act with 5:1. “Angie did exactly what the idea was: avoid mistakes, take the initiative at the right moment and score points,” said coach Wim Fissette.

Shortly before the one-hour mark Kerber already had the first match point, but took advantage of the opportunity. Unlike Russia’s Kasatkina in the quarter-finals, when they lost six points, this was not a big drama – Ostapenko won two more games for 5-3, but then Kerber took game, set and victory for his second big chance at the great Wimbledon luck. “I trust her to make it this year. No matter who she plays in the final,” said tennis legend Billie Jean King, “Angie is very convincing.”

However, this also applies to Serena Williams, the opponent in the final. She destroyed all hopes for the first purely German women’s final since 1931 with all consistency and force against Görges, a real chance the North German never had at her very first Centre Court appearance. “Serena and the special atmosphere on this pitch – that can be very intimidating,” predicted former superstar Chris Evert even before the first rally – proved to be a realistic prophecy.

Although Görges kept up well in the early stages, the 36-year-old tennis mother rushed away at express speed, won set 1 6-2 and was also leading 5-3 in the second set, with short hope for Görges, with the first break to 4-5, but with another loss of serve by the Germans, the semi-final day was over – and also the whole tournament for Görges. “I never expected this. This is really crazy,” said Williams, who is only competing in the fourth tournament after her baby break. Looking ahead, to the duel with Kerber: “It’s a free dance for me. “I’m looking forward to the match, also because I like Angie.”