Kerber's Returns Thwart Serena's Return; Wins Wimbledon Singles

With the Top 10 seeds in the women's singles all eliminated, this pairing was always on the cards.

Angelique Kerber of Germany had checked in at No 11, while still-new mother Serena Williams had risen to No 25 since her return to the game.

Going by Wimbledon's logic, then, Kerber was favored to win the 2018 singles title.

She did, 6-3, 6-3.

 

On this day, reason included Kerber playing virtually unblemished tennis. Among other things:

• The German committed only 5 unforced errors the entire match, compared to Serena's 24, and
• She broke Serena in 5 of 9 service games.

These were not flukes. More like trends:

After taking the match's first two points, Serena wound up being broken right outta the gate. The 23-time Slam champion followed by dropping eight of the next nine.

It was a sign that Kerber's persistence on defense -- a specialty of hers -- was gonna be the story line:

 

Kerber had previously won the Australian and US Opens back in 2016, and now she can add that plate to her souvenir list.

Not to mention a return to the WTA's Top 10.