MELBOURNE — At the Australian Open on Saturday, all that stood between Serena Williams and Steffi Graf was Angelique Kerber, who took 33 majors to reach her first Grand Slam final. Kerber was trying to become the first German to win a women’s major since Graf won in 1999. Williams was trying to join Graf as a 22-time major winner in singles.
Williams, the world No. 1, was the defending champion and a six-time titlist here. But in the final it was as if she were playing singles against a doubles team of Kerber and Graf. As strong as Williams is, she could not quite push through the pressure of history and a free-swinging Kerber, who pulled off the 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 upset.
It was Williams’s second failed attempt to reach 22. She lost in the semis at last year’s US Open, in perhaps even more dispiriting fashion, as she was rolling toward the sport’s first Grand Slam since 1988.
Kerber, 28 was the first seventh-seeded player to win the Australian Open since Williams in 2005 and the first to beat Williams in a three-set major final. When Williams’s last stroke, a volley, sailed long, Kerber watched the ball land, then flung her racket, fell to the ground, and motioned as if she were making a Slam angel. Like any worthy disciple, she had defended Graf from a dangerous adversary.
“I think I helped Steffi right now,’’ Kerber said with a smile.
After seeing her bid to join Graf evaporate, Williams made her way to Kerber’s side of the net and enveloped her in a hug.
Williams, 34, smiled as she accepted her silver platter from Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, a four-time champion in Melbourne. She congratulated Kerber on a victory that she described as deserving, then ceded the stage. Kerber’s face registered shock but she was hardly speechless. With her comments, she covered as many angles as she had on the court. After describing Williams as “an inspiration for so many people,’’ Kerber spoke of her dream “coming true tonight.’’ To be able to call herself a Grand Slam champion, she said, “It sounds really crazy.’’
“I had goose bumps on the court when I was playing,’’ added Kerber, who did not advance past the third round in any of the majors last year.
If Kerber had been an Academy Award winner, the cued music would have chased her off the stage. But after waiting so long for her crowning moment as a pro, Kerber was content to bask in the spotlight, and the crowd caught her wave of bliss and rode it with her. Williams included. “She played so well today,’’ Williams said. “She had an attitude that I think a lot of people can learn from, just to always stay positive and never give up.’’
Someone suggested to Williams later that she looked almost as happy as Kerber during the trophy presentation. Williams smiled and said, “Really? I should get into acting.’’
Kerber converted five of nine break points and finished with 13 unforced errors to Williams’s 46, many of them committed at the net. She came in 32 times and won 15 of the points. Williams, who did not record her first ace until her eighth service game, finished with seven aces and six double faults. Kerber had five aces against three doubles. Her winners-to-unforced errors differential was also better — a plus-12 to Williams’s plus-1.
The statistics showed what the eye could plainly see. Despite her 25 previous major final appearances, Williams was the tighter player. “She’s human,’’ said Williams’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. “When you are a big favorite, a big favorite in a Grand Slam final, you are a bit nervous. If you’re not, you are not normal.’’
He added, “We just have to congratulate Angelique. She’s been able to play the perfect match today and that was the only way to beat Serena.’’
As Mouratoglou made his way through the maze of corridors to meet up with Williams after the match, he was stopped by a security guard who said, “Excuse me. Can I see your pass please?’’
Nobody could overlook Williams’s credentials. After Saturday’s defeat she is 21-5 in major finals. Graf lost nine finals on her way to winning 22. Goolagong-Cawley sustained 11 losses in finals on her way to winning seven major singles crowns. “They’re very difficult,’’ said Goolagong-Cawley, adding, “I do believe Serena will pass Margaret Court before she’s done.’’
Court, for whom one of the stadiums at Melbourne Park is named, collected 24 major singles titles from 1960 to 1973. At a luncheon earlier in the week, the 73-year-old Court said, “I think anyone who beats my record deserves to win it. But remember, I always had Billie Jean King, Chris Evert had Martina Navratilova to beat, and then Steffi Graf came in. Serena hasn’t got anybody pushing her very much, so it is an open door for her.’’
Kerber’s four WTA titles in 2015 were the most after Williams’s five. On the strength of her runner-up finish at an Australian Open tune-up tournament in Brisbane and her victory here, Kerber will move to world No. 2 when the new rankings come out. She improved her career record against Williams to 2-5. The only other player in the top 10 to have more than one victory against Williams is Maria Sharapova, who is 2-19, including 18 consecutive defeats.
“She’s had a great month,’’ Williams said of Kerber, adding, “I was surprised and really happy for her. I’m like, ‘Whoa, No. 2.’ What’s after 2 is 1, so I guess I better be careful.’’
