Angelique Kerber was named VAVEL USA’s WTA Player of the Month for January. The month was a memorable one for the German which saw her win her first Grand Slam title, the Australian Open. The title in Melbourne Park was one of two trophies she won, finishing runner-up at the Brisbane International to Victoria Azarenka.
Runner-up In Brisbane
The current world number two started her road to the Brisbane final in an open bottom half after Garbiñe Muguruza retired against Varvara Lepchenko in the second round. She overcame Camila Giorgi in her opening round as the hard-hitting Italian was no easy matchup for anyone, owning a multitude of wins over the top ten.
After the tough win over the Italian, Kerber began to hit her stride. She steamrolled Madison Brengle and got by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova before she met Carla Suarez Navarro in the semis. She dropped five games to the Spaniard before meeting Azarenka in the final. The Belarusian made her intentions as an Australian Open favorite well-known by throttling the German in the final.
A Moment Like This: Kerber Stuns Serena For First Major Title
After a short stint in Sydney where she withdrew after her first round win over Elina Svitolina, the German was off to Melbourne Park. She nearly found herself out of the Grand Slam of the Asia/Pacific, saving a match point against Misaki Doi. She began to steamroll her opponents after that, dropping 14 games in six sets en route to the blockbuster rematch against Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals.
The 28-year-old played brilliantly this time around against the two-time Australian Open champion, using her angles and defense to keep Azarenka in check. The former world number one tried to mount a comeback but faltered as she could not convert set points to force a decisive set as Kerber was through to the semis.
In the semis, she took out first-time semifinalist in Johanna Konta to setup a final against Serena Williams. Kerber shockingly took the first set and looked on her way to the title before Serena took her game up a notch to force a third set. Many thought the world number one would kick it into high gear for the third set, but she did anything but that as she looked flat as Kerber took home her first ever Grand Slam title.
