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Tennis: Kerber Stuns Serena Williams to Win Australian Open

Angelique Kerber upset world number one Serena Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4 to clinch the Australian Open Saturday.
Image: Germany's Angelique Kerber after her victory against Serena Williams at the 2016 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.
Germany's Angelique Kerber after her victory against Serena Williams at the 2016 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.GREG WOOD / AFP - Getty Images

Angelique Kerber became the first German to win a grand slam title since her childhood idol Steffi Graf in 1999 when she upset world number one Serena Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4 to clinch the Australian Open Saturday.

The 34-year-old American had been seeking her seventh Melbourne Park title and 22nd overall, which would have moved her into a tie with Graf for the most grand slam singles titles in the Open era.

Image: 2016 Australian Open - Day 13
Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber of Germany pose with their trophies after the women's final of the Australian Open on Jan. 30 in Melbourne.Michael Dodge / Getty Images

The seventh seeded Kerber, however, was not overawed by the occasion of her first grand slam final, breaking twice in the first set to take it in 39 minutes as Williams made 23 unforced errors.

Williams cut down on the errors to send it into a third, which Kerber, who had the opportunity to serve it out while leading 5-3 only for the American to battle back, clinched when Williams hit a volley long in the following game.