Serena Williams defeated Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final. (Source: Reuters)
Serena Williams finally bagged her seventh Wimbledon and 22nd Grand Slam overall in a 7-5, 6-3 win over Angelique Kerber in the final. Serena broke the German twice – once in each set – to win the match.
Wimbledon 2016 women’s singles Serena Williams vs Angelique Kerber LIVE:
2001 hrs IST: Serena puts away a volley at the net and she has her 22nd Slam! 7-5, 6-3
2001 hrs IST: Three incredible serves and Serena has three match points
1958 hrs IST: From 40-15, Kerber loses four points in a row to have her serve broken. Serena serves for the match at 5-3
1957 hrs IST: “She touched the net” claims Serena after a beautiful play at the net. Kerber responds with a finger wag, “No I didn’t”
1954 hrs IST: Serena holds as Kerber’s backhand is into the net. Staying on serve. 4-3
1953 hrs IST: Make that two aces in a row.
1953 hrs IST: Serena serves an ace on break point. Kerber’s first this match
1952 hrs IST: Serena with a thunderous C’mon as she wins a remarkable rally at 15-30
1950 hrs IST: Kerber holds to make it 3-3
1946 hrs IST: Meanwhile we have more on the India-origin girl who did the coin toss in the match. Read here
1945 hrs IST: Serena getting really disturbed by the wind. Made to stop, adjust. But holds. Serena up 3-2
1942 hrs IST: The difference between Australian Open and Wimbledon for Serena
1941 hrs IST: Kerber holds serve. 2-2 now
1939 hrs IST: Kerber with a glorious backhand winner down the line over the higher part of the net. Incredible shot
1938 hrs IST: Serena’s first set record shouldn’t make Kerber happy
1937 hrs IST: Serena’s strong serve down the tee which Kerber can’t return. Serena holds. 2-1
1934 hrs IST: Kerber returns in kind to hold. 1-1
1930 hrs IST: Serena opens the second set. And holds serve 1-0
1927 hrs IST: Serena pushes Kerber to the forehand side but its into the net. Serena wins the first set 7-5 in 47 mins
1926 hrs IST: Serena’s drop shot is not good enough and Kerber runs on to dispatch for a winner. 30-40
1926 hrs IST: Backhand error and Serena has two set points. 15-40
1925 hrs IST: Kerber pulls forehand wide. Goes for a bit much. 15-30
1925 hrs IST: Kerber does the same to bring it back to 15-15
1924 hrs IST: Serena with a brilliant point construction to put away at the net. 0-15
1922 hrs IST: From 15-30, Serena with three great serves to hold. Adding to her ace count to go up 6-5
1919 hrs IST: Serena shanks backhand into the net and Kerber holds to make it 5-5
1915 hrs IST: Kerber’s forehand goes long. Serena holds 5-4.
1915 hrs IST: Serve down the tee for an ace. Game point Serena
1914 hrs IST: Kerber with a brilliantly disguised drop shot to bring it to deuce
1913 hrs IST: This time Serena is pushed to the side. Slips slightly on the backhand side with the ball hitting the net. 40-30
1911 hrs IST: Another error and Kerber holds to make it 4-4
1910 hrs IST: Good slightly wide serve as Serena’s forehand hits the tape
1910 hrs IST: Serena moving Kerber from forehand to backhand and eventually Kerber sends forehand long. 30-30
1909 hrs IST: New balls as Kerber serves.
1907 hrs IST: Once again great angles, accuracy and retrieving before Kerber blinks. Stays on serve. 4-3 to Serena
1905 hrs IST: Serena backhand is into the net. Deuce
1904 hrs IST: Superb point! Great rally going back and forth using all angles before Serena volleys it
1902 hrs IST: Ellen Degeneres, Maisie Williams in in the royal box. And so are Jay Z and Beyonce
1901 hrs IST: Serena’s error hands Kerber a comfortable hold. 3-3
1858 hrs IST: Kerber’s backhand is wide and Serena holds serve to keep things on serve in the first. Serena up 3-2
1856 hrs IST: Finally Kerber gets the aid of her first serve to hold. 2-2
1854 hrs IST: Meanwhile Murray is readying for the final tomorrow
1852 hrs IST: Once again, Serena serves the game out with an ace. Serena’s service game, in comparison, is a breeze.
1850 hrs IST: Double fault by Serena at 40-0
1849 hrs IST: Missed it! Serena with a rare poor shot to send an easy backhand long. Kerber holds.
1849 hrs IST: Serena takes the backhand low and it goes wide. Game point for Kerber
1848 hrs IST: Another second serve by Kerber, the ball hits the line and jumps on to Serena. Third deuce
1847 hrs IST: Serena with low backswing and sends backhand for a winner
1847 hrs IST: Kerber with a forehand down the line and Serena’s return is into the net. Deuce.
1847 hrs IST: Kerber’s running backhand is into the net. Second break point for Serena.
1846 hrs IST: But Kerber serves a double fault to bring it to deuce again
1846 hrs IST: Serena’s backhand sails long and the break point is saved to bring it to deuce
1844 hrs IST: Some pressure on the Kerber serve. Lovely half volley pickup by Serena after a long rally from the back. Break point for Serena
1842 hrs IST: Serena serves out the first game with an ace!
# Serena is near flawless against lefties in Slams
# Rosberg sends Kerber luck. The German is racing in the vicinity too – at Silverstone involved in the British Grand Prix
# First British wheelchair winners are crowned!
# The two ladies earlier today:
# Players so far to have beaten Venus and Serena consecutively in semis and finals: Araxna Sanchez Vicario (1998), Kim Clijsters (2002), Lindsay Davenport (2004). Will Angelique Kerber add her name to the list?
# Where do you think the title is going? Tell us in our poll on Twitter
# Just to bring you up to speed on the two women’s road to the final – Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber
# We’re half an hour away from the final. Crowds filling in and expectations rising!
# Last time a German won the Wimbledon women’s singles crown? 1996!
BUILD UP:
# Steffi Graf’s image looms large over Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber Wimbledon final
Serena Williams once again has a shot at picking up her 22nd Grand Slam title when she faces Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final.
The women’s final between Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber isn’t just a chance for the American to exact revenge over the German for her Australian Open final loss but it is an opportunity for both players at history.
# Equal prize money debate irks Serena Williams
Serena Williams strongly defended the equal prize money that they get along with the men. (Source: AP)
After years of campaigning by figure-heads such as Billie Jean King, Wimbledon introduced equal prize-money in 2007. But every time there is a lopsided match in the latter stages of the women’s competition, the subject comes up for discussion again.