Angelique Kerber entered her name into the immortality of the US Open Sunday. The newly crowned number one ranked woman in the world took on plenty of adversity in the final match against Karolina Pliskova to win her first US Open title 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the grounds of the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. It was her second Grand Slam title of the year and one that put her in a place all by herself.
This was a first time US Open final for both of them but overall the eighth meeting between the players. Their last three meetings all came as the final match of tournaments with the Czech getting a win off Kerber in Cincinnati last month. Pliskova dominated the world number two German in straight sets making it very important for Kerber to be at her best in the final major of the year. The 26-year-old never let off the gas in her path to the final making it her third appearance in majors this season vying for a second Grand Slam this season
The 24-year-old Czech had an easy start to her tournament run before knocking out the first of two Williams sisters being Venus. When she pulled off the upset of Serena in the semifinal, Pliskova knocked her off the number one spot to get a chance to upset the new girl at the top once more.
She opened service looking at bit nervous with a double fault to start things off. Pliskova battled back but a broken string on her racket caused her to hand the break to Kerber. The German dictated her serve strongly to get out of deuce and take a 2-0 lead. Pliskova held her own in the third on service but trying to consolidate a break in the fourth proved difficult for her. Losing the advantage on the break point attempt left Kerber in charge to regain control and sit two games on the Czech star.
Seven games had elapsed with Pliskova cutting the lead each time that pressured Kerber on serve in the eighth. She handled herself well gaining the victory that gave her a chance to get the set lead on or off serve. A double fault by Pliskova opened the door for Kerber to attack and get the set win outdueling the strong returns of her opponent. It was the 45th time that Kerber won the first set in a match that she won hoping to add an actual victory to it.
It took 40 minutes to gain the important ground in match with the German winning eight of the ten rallies played while maintaining a better second serve than Pliskova. With too many unforced errors in the set loss, the Czech required a regrouping to start the second set.
The two got into it with holds of serves that included strong play from Pliskova to match that of Kerber’s. The players played evenly through six games as the thought of who would take control came to play. In game seven, it was the Czech who held her end to put pressure back on Kerber to act with a fourth service hold. She was unable to lock it down with Pliskova playing tremendous defense to get the break.
The victory allowed her to take a 5-3 lead on Kerber with the opportunity for leveling the match on the horizon. It was another deuce draw that helped the German gain some control on service in the ninth where she managed an important hold. Despite the late comeback of losing two straight, the new number one was unable to turn things around watching Pliskova capture the set pushing the title to a deciding third set.
It came down to who would break under the pressure first and it only took three games for the result to come. Kerber showed signs of struggle on service losing focus at the key point to end up on the low side of the set. Pliskova used it to stay ahead of Kerber through five inching closer to a big upset.
With the need for a big response, the German came from behind and struck big taking her opponent for a run in the sixth before adding a second straight win on serve. The fight was still on from the Czech as she answered to take the lead back but a break and hold of serve from Kerber led to the German playing for her chance at the title.
Pliskova served up a shot that Kerber easily handled to go up 15-0. It became too easy as the Czech handed points giving the second seed triple championship point. A short five-shot rally ended with Pliskova firing the ball long to end the 1-hour 27-minute match. She held a 45-0 record this season winning the match by capturing the first set. With a title now in hand, the 26-year-old took the biggest step in quite a successful season.
“It’s just amazing,” Kerber said. “I won my second grand slam in one year. That’s the best year in my career and it’s just incredible to play here in 2011 and to stand here five years later with the trophy, it means so much to me.” For the Czech, the loss wasn’t a total loss making her first final but she duly gave the credit to her fellow tennis player. “She proved today that she is a world number one and it was a great match and I am honored to have played her,” Pliskova said on court to ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.
When asked about number one, Kerber was taken back to when she dreamt of being at the top and being there now. “It means a lot of me. When I was a kid I was always dreaming to be the number one player in the world, to win grand slams and today’s the day that I won my second grand slam here especially in New York. I’m the number one player on Monday, its just incredible.”
Photo by: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
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