Angelique Kerber denies Serena Williams her 24th Major title at Wimbledon

LONDON (AP) — Angelique Kerber won her first Wimbledon championship by stopping Serena Williams’ bid for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title.

Kerber played cleanly as can be, covering the court so well and picking her spots for big shots, in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Williams in Saturday’s final.

It is the 30-year-old Kerber’s third Grand Slam title. She also beat Williams in the Australian Open final in 2016, then won that year’s U.S. Open.

“I think I’m the next one after Steffi who won – it’s amazing,” Kerber said of her fellow German Steffi Graf.

A royal reception for the newly-crowned #Wimbledon champion, @AngeliqueKerber… pic.twitter.com/Iixv1g0r6m

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018

Williams is a seven-time Wimbledon champion and her 23 major trophies rank second all-time to Margaret Court. This final came just 10½ months after the 36-year-old American gave birth to a daughter and dealt with a serious health scare. She was playing in the fourth tournament of her comeback.

“I was really happy to get this far,” Williams said. “For all the moms out there, I was playing for you today”

A touching end to a fantastic tournament#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/EUjeQJJUFa

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018