Angelique Kerber might have been disappointed after finishing runners-up in the Rio Olympics last month, but the German was in no mood to let another big title slip by. The second seed clinched the US Open women's singles title on Saturday. Kerber got the better off Karolina Pliskova in a tight three-set affair, score reading 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to win the final Grand Slam of the year.
The second seed came into the finals with immense confidence, without dropping a single set. Her opponent, Pliskova also came into the final buoyant after her incredible straight sets win over top seed Serena Williams.
Hence, Kerber knew what she was up against, and she came up with an incredible performance in the first set to clinch it 6-3. But Pliskova was not making it easy for the German with her hard-hitting game, and one knew that the 10th seed would come back hard.
With some stunning winners including powerful strokes, there was an air of confidence in which the Czech star began to show her skills in the second set. Pliskova looked in good control, and won the set 4-6, taking the finals to a decider.
However, things were not looking great for Kerber, as her body language did not look good in the second set. On the contrary, Pliskova was all pumped after winning the second, and stretching the title-decider to the final set.
"In the second set, my body language was not the best. I was trying to change it in the third set, but it was not so easy because Karolina is a tough opponent. She was one break up very soon in the third set," US Open's official website quoted Kerber as saying.
The third set produced some amazing tennis from both the players, and it also boiled down to the mentality of the two stars in action. It was very tight with the final set tied at 3-3, and later at 4-4. One needs to applaud Kerber for her solid play in the final set. Though both Kerber and Pliskova took their game to the next level in the final set, it was the second seed, who clinched the final two games of the set to win the US Open.
Kerber, who became the new world number one after Serena's semifinal loss, showed her class when it mattered most to win her second Grand Slam of the year. It has been an incredible year for the German as she had won the Australian Open earlier as well. She also finished runners-up in Wimbledon.
"It's just incredible what I did this year. I'm really so happy and so proud about everything what's happened now about my team, about my game, and about my improvement, as well. I think I improved in a lot of ways. To be here with my second trophy, it's just the best feeling ever," Kerber said.
