Wimbledon 2016: Women's Final Winner, Score and Twitter Reaction
Serena Williams has enjoyed many a memorable afternoon on Centre Court at Wimbledon, but none more than Saturday's final when she got the better of Angelique Kerber.
The 7-5, 6-3 win saw the American clinch her seventh title at the All England Club and, more significantly, her 22nd in Grand Slam competitions. That’s a haul that puts the 34-year-old level with Steffi Graf and two behind Margaret Court’s total of 24.
It was another masterclass in dealing with pressure, showing superb athleticism and displaying incredible determination for Williams. Here’s a closer look at her latest remarkable achievement and the best reaction after a landmark day for one of the greatest players in the game’s history.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Williams Makes History at SW19
Having lost to Kerber in an absorbing finale at the Australian Open earlier in the year, some wondered whether Williams would be able to cope with the determined German on Sunday.
In the early stages, the match looked set to be a close contest, too. Despite the fact this was her first Wimbledon final, the No. 4 seed settled well and was happy to trade with Williams in the main. What she wasn’t able to do was find a way to put some sustained pressure on her opponent’s serve.
As the tournament’s Twitter feed noted in the early exchanges, the serve was functioning brilliantly for the champion:
What Williams has also done so well on her way to 22 Grand Slam titles is produce in the clutch moments. So when she served to go ahead at 6-5 in the opening set, there was almost an inevitability about the way she attacked Kerber and subsequently surged into a lead.
From there, the match was essentially done and dusted, as the champion has never lost when leading by a set in a major final, per ESPN Tennis.
The second stanza contained some sensational pieces of play from both players, but once again, when the finish line came into view, Williams took her chance. She broke her opponent to move 5-3 ahead and with the ball in hand, the veteran was never going to let the title out of her grasp.
BBC Sport depicted her latest triumph at Wimbledon alongside the other six:
Here’s how she reacted in the aftermath, reminding those in attendance just how many Grand Slam titles she had in the trophy room, per ESPN Tennis:
"22@serenawilliams #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/MNI4ZlYDva
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) July 9, 2016"
After the match was won, the magnitude of Williams’ achievement set social media ablaze.
The American has been the dominant force in the sport for a long time now, and being alongside Graf is testament to the consistency and quality she’s shown for so long. Her 22nd Grand Slam title, after all, came just shy of 17 years after her first at the U.S. Open in 1999.
Needless to say, the reaction from the rest of the tennis world was one of unanimous admiration. Martina Navratilova, another great of the sport, paid tribute to the efforts of Williams:
In addition, a host of rivals in the women’s game also had kind words to say about the Wimbledon champion, including Eugenie Bouchard, her semi-final opponent at the tournament, Elena Vesnina and Kerber herself:
Williams is one of the greatest champions in the history of sport. The manner in which she delivers under such huge expectations is remarkable, and the achievements she can look back on transcend tennis. This win merely adds the gloss to an immaculate reputation that has been forged over so many years.
There’s still more to come from the 34-year-old, too. While the likes of Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, Agnieszka Radwanska and Simona Halep will all be tough opponents in the months and years to come, none relish the big stage like Williams. Expect her to be insatiable in her desire to push on from this special accomplishment toward Court’s ultimate landmark.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
