2016 in review: Angelique Kerber

The best of times

Try picking just one. From her axis-tilting run to the Australian Open title in January, to replacing Serena Williams as world No.1 in September en route to claiming her second major at the US Open, via a Wimbledon final and Olympic silver medal-winning run in Rio, in one year Angelique Kerber has elevated her standing in the game from great tennis player to one of the greats.

But pick one we must, and while her breakthrough victory in Melbourne – beating Williams in the final, no less – was undoubtedly the standout moment of her season, her fairy tale in New York showed a player at the height of her powers, fully adjusted to her status as the woman to beat. Playing with the aura of a world-beater, the German toppled three seeds and former world No.1 and US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki en route to the title, downing Karolina Pliskova in the final.

The worst of times

In the fullness of time, Kerber’s defeat by Kiki Bertens in the first round at Roland Garros would be tempered by the Dutchwoman’s run, which saw her down three further seeds before losing to Serena Williams in the semi-finals. And the warning signs were there; Kerber, having lost her clay-court openers in Madrid and Rome, was struggling with her form, while Bertens believes she would have beaten the then-world No.3 in Miami when, as a qualifier, she led the German 6-1 before illness intervened and she retired in the third set.

Nevertheless, the three-set defeat extended the unfortunate trend of first-time Grand Slam title winners to struggle on their next appearance at a major: Flavia Pennetta and Marion Bartoli both retired, while Victoria Azarenka, Samantha Stosur, Petra Kvitova, Li Na and Francesca Schiavone all failed to reach the quarter-finals following their breakthrough triumph. Garbine Muguruza, the eventual champion in Paris, carried the curse to Wimbledon, where she lost in the second round.

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Match of the year

Such is Kerber’s never-say-die attitude, she found herself on the losing side of one of the bona fide 2016 classics against Petra Kvitova in Wuhan – but when it comes to victories, there can surely be only one. Few predicted that the 28-year-old’s Grand Slam breakthrough was on the cards at the Australian Open – fewer still when she found herself match point down against Misaki Doi in the first round. Reprieved, Kerber made full use of the chance, downing the resurgent Victoria Azarenka in the quarters and surprise package Johanna Konta in the semis to reach her first Grand Slam final.

Serena awaited – winner of four of the previous five majors, one title shy of Steffi Graf’s 22-slam haul. But Kerber was fearless, saving her best for last with a pitch-perfect first set as Williams racked up the errors. A tiger in defence, she produced a string of stunning passes, and even when the six-time defending champion responded in the second set the German refused to waver. Two inspired drop shots brought the crowd to their feet and swung the balance her way once more – and undeterred after being broken when serving for the title, she broke back to hand Williams her first three-set defeat in a Grand Slam final.

Quote of the year

“When I was a kid I was always dreaming to one day be the No.1 player in the world, to win Grand Slams. And today is the day. All the dreams came true this year.”
– After winning the US Open, having secured the No.1 ranking by reaching the final

Tweet of the year

What a day it turned out to be…

This is so special for me… I'm back in the @usopen semi-finals where it all started in 2011! #TeamAngie #NYC pic.twitter.com/W2ZbwZ7WCt

— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) September 6, 2016