Angelique Kerber is brimming with confidence before taking on the world number one in the Wimbledon final on Saturday. A victory for Serena Williams would see her equal Steffi Graf’s Grand Slam singles titles record.
Kerber, Germany’s top-ranked player, will try to win her second Grand Slam title of the year when she faces Serena Williams in this year’s final at the All England Club.
The 28-year-old has already beaten the American once this year, in the Australian Open final in January, and the the younger Williams sister hasn’t forgotten about the defeat. “I felt like she played great. She was fearless,” said Serena about Kerber’s performance at Melbourne Park.
The win down under made Kerber the first German to win a Grand Slam in 17 years and she said winning her first major title has handed her a confidence boost: “I just believe much more in myself, especially after Australia,” she said, adding that she feels she can “trust” her abilities.
Bremen-born Kerber demonstrated her new found self-belief to fire a warning to her opponent, saying that she will be out to show Williams that she is “there to win.”
Williams to equal Graf’s record?
True to form, the top seed isn’t short of confidence either. The 34-year-old was in a combative mood after she dispatched Elena Vesnina in the quickest semi final in Wimbledon history, saying that nothing less than a win will do. “For anyone else, reaching the final would be a wonderful accomplishment. For me, it’s not enough,” she said. Williams also suggested she is “one of the best athletes of all time.”
Williams has more at stake than just a Wimbledon final. Should she win, the world number one will equal Germany’s Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slam singles triumphs. Williams tried not to pay attention to her potential milestone by saying it was never her goal. “I don’t want to talk about that anymore,” she said.
The 2016 Wimbledon final will take place on Saturday at the All England Club in London.
