mtenis.com.pl

Germany - Reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber won her second title of the season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, dispatching qualifier and countrywoman Laura Siegemund, the tournament's Cinderella story, 6-4, 6-0.

Watch live action from Stuttgart & Istanbul this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Siegemund had played inspired tennis throughout the week, taking out three Top 10 players - including top seed and World No.2 Angieszka Radwanska - and showed few signs of stopping from the outset of Sunday's final, twice moving ahead by a break in the opening set.

"I was trying to stay focused after she really had a great start," Kerber told press after the match. "After a few games at the beginning I just started to feel my rhythm and that was I think the key, that I really started to hit the balls again and tried to believe in my game and myself. I was moving very well today and I think that was also very important against her, but I was trying to stay a little bit relaxed in the first set."

But Kerber has only lost one completed match since Indian Wells (Miami Open, Azarenka) and continued to press her opponent, who was playing in her first WTA singles final, into increasingly more grueling rallies - exposing her fatigue from eight matches in nine days and a left hip issue for which she took a medical timeout early in the second set.

"I was just trying to enjoy the atmosphere, the fans and to play here again in the finals. So, I was trying to relax a little bit but also in the same moment to be focused. It helped me yesterday, so I was trying and hoping that it will help me today as well!"

Though Siegemund finished the match with more winners (22 to 16), Kerber played her counterpunching style to perfection, hitting just nine unforced errors in 80 minutes to win the final 10 games of the match.

It was nonetheless a stellar week for the 28-year-old veteran, who will bound up nearly 30 spots to a career-high ranking of No.42; more importantly, she leapfrogs four of her compatriots to become the No.4 German woman on the WTA rankings - putting her in pole position to round out the national team who can be sent to the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

"I think mentally I could have pulled myself together for one more afternoon. But it was physically," Siegemund said of her issues with fatigue in the final. "It's also like, they say when you feel tired physically, mentally you are already very tired much before you know it. So there is some bad decision-making where you go like, 'Jesus Christ, why this shot now?' It's just this combination that makes it difficult. Physically there was nothing to grab, and if there is no energy, you need to run to play tennis!"

"I really feel that this is new, but it's not like I have never experienced like it," she added when asked about her rapid rise from the Challenger circuit into a WTA Premier final. "If you play lower level tournaments, like when I was in the final of a 25K, it's the same feeling, it's just everything a little bit bigger, a little bit better. But the feelings are the same. You really want to win, maybe put more pressure on yourself the next week. So, it's just a different level now.

"I really don't want to put any pressure on myself. I have learned to play freely and enjoy and I never want that have taken away again. So, my main aim will be to stay balanced, stay with my feet on the ground, do good work and enjoy being out there on the tennis court. And the day I stop enjoying it like it was in the past, I will take the freedom to say, 'No it's not for me anymore.'"

Kerber remains at No.3, but her title in Stuttgart was not only her first career title defense, but the win makes her the fastest player to back up a maiden Grand Slam title since Petra Kvitova, who won the Generali Ladies Linz three months after capturing her first Wimbledon title in 2011.

"I think for me it's really the best season I have played so far. I mean, to win my first Grand Slam and then winning here in front of my home crowd, that is the best start ever. It's so special to win a Grand Slam and the tournament here at home because everybody is here, I know all the faces and playing in front of this crowd is always amazing. That's why it's much more special this year to win this tournament."

The doubles final took place less than an hour later, and No.2 seeds Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic won their second straight WTA title with a stunning win over Co-No.1s Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza, 2-6, 6-1, 10-6. Garcia and Mladenovic were fresh from their first title together in Charleston when they combined to dispatch the Dutch to reach the Fed Cup final, and recovered from a set down to defeat Hingis and Mirza, who were in their first final since February (St. Petersburg). The more aggressive team through the one hour and 21 minute final, Garcia and Mladenovic struck 25 winners to Santina's 16.

"It's very exciting and challenging to get to play you guys," Mladenovic said after the match, addressing Hingis and Mirza. "I hope we get to play many more finals together."

The French pair not only came away with their second title of the season, but also a pair of Porsche bikes.

"We could ride these back to France, no?" she laughed. "It'd take a little bit longer than the Porsche [car], though!"

Q. How are you feeling on the grass with a couple wins under your belt? Do you feel fully comfortable now?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I'm feeling better. I'm feeling better than the first round today. It's good that I have little bit matches also in Birmingham.
I'm feeling always good on grass. This is why I love this tournament and looking forward to play next round.
Q. Are you surprised at all, as the No. 4 seed and Australian Open champion, that you were on a small court today?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think, yeah, I heard a lot of discussions about this also. Venus was playing there. Petra was playing there I think yesterday.
But you never know. It was rain delayed from yesterday. I know that they would like to have a lot of play and matches continue today, and also from yesterday.
I think it's fine. I think it's good that these courts have Hawk Eye, so this is okay.
Q. When you say 'discussions,' who were you talking with?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I read a little bit on Twitter on this. I was speaking about this with my coach and a few others, so yeah.
Q. For you the court was okay?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I won, so it was okay.
Q. Could I ask you a few quick questions with one word answers for the fun of it?
THE MODERATOR: Keep it to one or two, please.
Q. The player you most like to see play?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I like to see Roger to playing.
Q. The athlete who you haven't met who you'd like to meet? Pass. Championship in sport outside of tennis that you would most like to win?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I love to watch the footballs, so football games. But it's a team sport, so I like also playing on a team.
Q. Your favorite movie?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Notebook.
Q. And actress to play you in the movies?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Julia Roberts.
Q. If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I love bread, so I would like always eating bread.

Q. Very different match from the last time you played her here a year ago. Talk us through that.
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, it was a different match and a different score, for sure. I knew before that it will be tough match against her because she played very well here the first two rounds. I know that she has nothing to lose against me and she will go out there being aggressive. She played really well.
Yeah, I'm happy that I won especially the first set and then the second one.
Q. What was kind of your reaction to having the matches canceled yesterday, having to come back, wait for the order of play?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Honestly, it was not so easy because yesterday our matches canceled really late, then the order of play came really late yesterday. Yeah, it was not so easy. Also today, I mean, on and off.

It was raining, then the sun came out. It was really tough. But I was trying, you know, being still focus, trying to listen to my music or, like, being really in my zone and trying to, yeah, being focus.
Q. How much do you look ahead in the draw now that you're the highest ranked player in your side of the draw?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I don't know really. No, I'm not looking too far in the draw. I know against who I'm playing my next round. I didn't know this before this match. So now I know.
It's a lefty again. But I'm not looking too far in the draws.
Q. A moment ago you said that it's not so easy when the schedule is messed up, on again, off again. What is most difficult about it mentally and physically?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Both. First of all, mentally, you must be really focusing and staying really concentrate. But also like physically, I mean, I don't know how many warmups I did today. To be, yeah, warm when you go out there. It's always tough when it's a little bit wet, to be careful with injuries.
So I was trying, yeah, taking care mentally and physically.
Q. What do you think the effect of all of this is on the tournament?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I don't know. We will see, of course. The weather is like the weather is. For all the players it's the same. But of course it's tough.
For me, it was good that I was playing Brisbane [sic] before. It was the same. I had two matches in one day. So I think I get used to it, like, a few weeks before I came here.
Q. Do you feel any difference coming to the tournament this year compared to last, having a Grand Slam? Does that change your confidence or outlook at all?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think right now I'm feeling really good, like in Australia. Of course, I have confidence. I know how to win a tournament like this. I think this gives me a lot of more, like, experience and confidence, like I had in Melbourne.
But it's always tough to come to the Grand Slam. I mean, the first few rounds are always not so easy. I was not playing so good in Paris. So it's good to be back in the second week on a Grand Slam after my Australian run.
Q. For someone who is outside of tennis, who really doesn't understand the inner workings of Wimbledon, how do you explain how special the middle Sunday is?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: It is special. It's special for this tournament. It's traditional, actually. I heard it's like the fourth time they are playing tomorrow.
I mean, you don't know how the weather is. Yeah, it's actually special that they are playing tomorrow because it's like a tradition here in Wimbledon. But, yeah, they have to.
Q. You said you know who you are going to play in the next round. What did you learn from the previous matchup against her? What kind of match do you expect?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I am expecting a really close match, I think. She is a lefty, as well. We never played on grass before. I think this is also a little bit different than to Australia.
But I know that she is a tough opponent. I was match point down in Australia. But I will try to, yeah, not thinking about who I'm playing. I will go out there trying to, yeah, play my game like always, and let's see.
Q. The Porsche logo on the top of your dress seemed quite large. Do you know if that was approved?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yes, it was.
Q. Are you driving a Porsche?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I'm driving a Porsche.
Q. Did you drive it over here with you?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: No, because it's on the other side you drive here.
Q. You are a very experienced player. When you're in a slump, is there any specific behavior to overcome a slump?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: No.
Q. You don't have any specific behavior?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Actually, no.
Q. What does Carina have to do to reach the top?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yes, she's playing really aggressive. I think just try to play consistent and playing a lot of more tournaments, matches like this. I think, yeah, when she win one or two matches against really good player, then she will get, like, much more confidence and believe in her game, that she can beat also good players.
So I think just, yeah, staying positive and practicing, playing. I think she has the potential to go far in the rankings and also in the tournaments.
Q. What is your analysis of the German football team right now and what are your plans for watching the match?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: My plans are for sure we will watch. I don't know where, but we will watch for sure with my team. Yeah, I know that they will win today against Italy. I'm sure.
Q. How do you know that?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I don't know. It's the feeling. I think they are really in a good shape. They are loving to playing tournaments. That's really a team, they are like, when the tournament starts and the matches are coming, they are there. I think they are loving to be in France right now. I think they will play a good match tonight.
Q. How would you rate your first week at Wimbledon, your play, everything?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think the first round was a little bit tricky, then also with the next rounds, with the rain, with the waits, yeah, cancellation and everything.
At the end I think it was a good week for me. I had good three matches. But right now, the second week starts, and I know that I have to playing from match to match better to, yeah, win some more matches here.
Q. Is there an excitement around the locker room that there is tennis on Sunday?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Not yet. Now we are just looking outside and looking at whether it is raining or no. That is actually the only thing we talk.

Q. Was this the most difficult day of your life against a quite often awesome opponent?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I don't know if it's the difficult day.
I think I played what I could today. I can just say, I mean, Serena was serving unbelievable today. At the end I was trying everything, but she deserved it today. She really played an unbelievable match. I think we both play on a really high level. I try everything.
Yeah, I mean, I think I was not the one who lose the match, I think she won the match. Yeah, just one can win, and today Serena deserved it.
Q. In the second set, you had a breakpoint. Serena laid down a 117 mile an hour ace and then a 124 mile an hour ace.
ANGELIQUE KERBER: This is how Serena is playing. I had one breakpoint, and I couldn't do nothing. I was trying to be tough, to being in the match, trying to fight until the last point. Yeah, like I said, Serena was today the one who won the match. I played my best what I could today. Yeah, at the end she deserved, so...

Q. You didn't play your best game in the first set, final game of the first set. What happened there? Did you lose it a little bit mentally?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: No, I think I was still playing not bad. I think Serena was returning better there. She was just going for it. I played two points a little bit too short, and she was there, and she goes for it. So, yeah, I mean, she did everything right.
Q. It was a great final, one of the best I remember in the last years. Does it give you partial consolation?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, I mean, of course I went out there today to win the match. That's for sure. But at the end, I tried everything. This is what I always telling myself when I go to the match. I was a little bit nervous at the beginning of the match.
After this amazing two weeks, I just can say that I give everything. Of course, I'm disappointed. But at the end I'm also proud about that what I did, also after Paris. I reach my second Grand Slam final in this year. It was amazing final. I really enjoy the final today. It was a great atmosphere out there. I will never forget the feeling.
Q. Serena has said you're fun to play. She said she enjoys playing you. Is that mutual or, in the moment, frustrating?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think I also like to play against her because I know that against her you have to play your best tennis. She is putting me to playing hundred percent.
She's a great opponent to play, but also a great person. She's a champion. Like I said on court, she's also a great person. When you are playing against her, I know that you have to give everything, yeah, to play a good match or to beat her.
Q. Did you feel that she changed anything from Australia? Did you change anything to respond to that?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Actually, today just her serve was much better. On grass the serve is also a little bit strange because it's tougher to return it. That was, I think, the only thing which changed from Australia.
Q. She tried three times to get to the 22 mark. Now she's come through. What did she show from New York to now?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I don't know. I mean, she's always a tough opponent when she's playing like today. I think today she was really focusing from the first point. Yeah, today was the serve the key for the match, that's for sure.
I think in Australia, it was amazing match, as well. I just can say, like I said, I give everything, so...
Q. You have youth on your side. Can you see the day that you'll follow in her footsteps? She's 34.
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think it's tough to follow on her footsteps. I'm going my own way. For me, it's just a great feeling to be in my second Grand Slam final.
Right now, I know how to get there. I had a great experience from Australia also here. Yeah, I think I'm on a good way to play better and better. I hope that I will reach few more finals and maybe win few more Grand Slams.
Q. You will become No. 2 of the world next week. You are closer to Serena's level. Do you feel you can become No. 1 of the world one day?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Let's see one day. But I think it's still a long way. Of course, it's one of my goals one day to be the No. 1.
But I'm not thinking about this. I'm really thinking that, yeah, I'm trying to improving my tennis, improving everything around, and also take a lot of experience.
Now I know how to handle the pressure and everything when you win a big tournament, and also when you reach a Grand Slam. I think this is the most important thing for me, to handle this, find the way how to do everything.
Q. You obviously know what it feels like to win a Grand Slam. Now you know what it feels like to lose a Grand Slam. How different does it feel to lose this match compared to a regular tournament loss?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Of course it feels disappointed, that's for sure. But also I know that I played a good final. I lost against a really strong Serena today. This makes a little bit better, that I know that she won the match, not that I lose the match, because she played very well. I also played a good match. That makes a little easier for me.
Q. When you were a kid, starting your career, you had dreams. What was your main dream? To win a slam? To become No. 1 in the world? Wimbledon more than other tournaments?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: My dream was to win a Grand Slam. That was actually any Grand Slam. Then to be No. 1, of course. But my first dream was to win a Grand Slam.
I won it already. I know I have the game, all the experience to win a few more Grand Slams. Of course, Wimbledon is a really special tournament. But I know how to get here, and I will hope that I will get one day the chance to play another final here.
Q. What did Serena say to you at the end of the match?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I just said to her, Congrats, and that she's a champion.
She just said that, yeah, I'm as well a champion, it was a great match. She was congrats me, too.
Q. Is it right that your coach stopped shaving in Australia?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yes.
Q. Have you made him continue doing that or have you allowed him to shave? Has there something gone wrong for this one?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think that's his ritual, you know. I think tonight he will shave. After two weeks, he looks like this. But this is his ritual.

- Angelique Kerber capped off her rise to WTA World No.1 by winning her first US Open title, edging past No.10 seed Karolina Pliskova, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

"It's just amazing. I won my second Grand Slam of the year and it's the best year of my career," Kerber said after the match.

"For me everything started here in 2011," she added, referring to when she made the semifinals ranked No.92. "And now here, five years later I'm standing here with the trophy. All the dreams came true this year."

Pliskova, who was contesting the first Grand Slam final of her career, opened the match looking a bit nervy, hitting four unforced errors in her first service game - including a wild forehand volley at the net. She broke a string just as Kerber broke her serve, and the German consolidated to build up a 2-0 lead.

But now with a couple of games in the bag, both players began to settle into the match and bring out the sparring tennis they've produced in their past seven encounters. Kerber defending the ball well then found open court with her famously consistent ground strokes, keeping Pliskova on the run. For her part, the Czech took advantage of Kerber's short balls and pounced on her second serve, but the loose errors proved to be her undoing as Kerber broke again to take the first set.

Pliskova recovered in the second set, rolling through her service games to keep the pressure on Kerber. She grabbed her chance to finally earn a break at 4-3, charging the net - an area where she's been dominating all match long - and drew Kerber in before hitting a perfect lob that just caught the baseline.

Into a deciding set, Kerber quickly found herself down an early break as Pliskova carried on her momentum for a 2-1 lead. But the new World No.1 remained undaunted, breaking back to level the score at 3-3. With over two hours played, Pliskova ran out of steam towards the end, hitting three unforced errors and being broken to love as Kerber collapsed to the ground as the US Open champion.

"This what's happened in the last two weeks, it's just incredible," Kerber said afterwards. "Also, how I was dealing with the pressure when I came here and everybody was asking me about the No. 1 number, actually. This was what I was trying to improving with the pressure."

"And also, today, I mean, it's always tough to going in the final when I know the opponent beats me like two or three weeks ago. That was also a challenge what I told myself, Okay, I will do everything on court today to win the match against Karolina."

With the victory, Kerber cements her spot at the top of the rankings, and becomes the first German since Steffi Graf in 1996 to win the US Open title.

For Pliskova, who will rise to No.6 in the rankings after the loss, there's no sadness or regrets after competing in such a high-quality, closely contested major final, the first of her career.

"I think I did a great job," she said in her post-match press conference. "It was my first final. Still was close to winning. I mean, she has more experience to play those finals than me so probably decided in this match."

"I'm so proud of myself. If someone would tell me I'm going to play finals in this tournament [two weeks ago] I would take it. No sadness."

Angelique Kerber becomes the first new No.1 in over three years, and the second German woman after childhood idol Stefanie Graf.

Angelique Kerber will become the new WTA World No.1 when updated rankings are released on Monday, September 12.

"Congratulations to Angelique on this remarkable accomplishment of becoming the WTA World No.1," said WTA CEO Steve Simon. "It is extremely difficult to reach the pinnacle of our sport, and Angelique has demonstrated amazing work ethic in the past year. Her outstanding results reflect this, and she truly deserves to be the new WTA World No.1."

The 28-year-old becomes only the second German woman to achieve this historic milestone since computer rankings were introduced in 1975, and the first since Stefanie Graf spent the last of her record 377 weeks at No.1 in March 1997. She is also the oldest player to make her debut at No.1, a record previously held by Jennifer Capriati, who was 25 years, 200 days when she reached No.1 in October 2001.

Kerber's rise to WTA World No.1 brings to an end the reign of Serena Williams, whose sixth stint in the top spot began more than three years ago, on February 18, 2013. At 186 consecutive weeks, the American's most recent stay at No.1 ties the Open Era record for most consecutive weeks at No.1 held by Graf. This is the 88th time the No.1 ranking has changed hands over the past four decades.

This accomplishment is the latest in what has been a breakout year for the German, who began the season by defeating Serena Williams to win her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, and followed up by advancing to the Wimbledon final, capturing a silver medal in singles at the Rio Olympics, successfully defending her title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, and reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Open (ongoing). Kerber leads the WTA for most main draw match wins this season, at 52-14, and her other highlights include reaching two finals at the Brisbane International and the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, and the semifinals at the Miami Open, Volvo Car Open in Charleston and Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Kerber will be presented with the WTA World No.1 Trophy, which was unveiled last year at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. The focal point of the trophy is a silver "star-map" tennis ball that represents the tennis universe and where all world No. 1s, past and present, are depicted by a diamond in the sky, representing each champion leaving their mark on the sport.

Kerber has also qualified for the 2016 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global in October, and will be making her fourth appearance at the year-end finale.

Angelique Kerber is the 2016 US Open champion, the heir apparent to the top spot in the rankings and, without any doubt, the best player in the world.
Say what you want about Serena Williams’ dominance, longevity and sure-fire Hall-of-Fame credentials, but the ranking formula essentially adheres to a case of "what have you done for me lately?" It's based on 12 months of math – at its heart, a game of addition and subtraction – and void of any subjectivity. Through that lens, the woman occupying the highest perch of all is not in question.
The current ranking system uses a rolling 52-week schedule which takes a player’s results from that year and that year only. It doesn’t care about a player’s reputation, how well they played 18 months ago or what they won a decade ago.
And as well as Serena plays when she plays, she simply hasn’t been on the court enough to overturn a truly great season from a remarkably bright talent.
Kerber has played 22 tournaments over the past 12 months, compared with Serena’s 14. Only two players inside the Top 100 have played fewer tournaments than the American over that time frame. One is Maria Sharapova, who hasn’t played since being suspended after the Australian Open in January. The other is currently pregnant Victoria Azarenka, whose last tournament was the French Open in May and who won’t be in action until 2017.
Kerber reached the final of the first tournament of 2016 in Brisbane and followed that up with her first-ever Grand Slam title two weeks later in Melbourne. That win came somewhat out of the blue considering she hadn’t been past the third round in any of the previous five majors and had reached the semifinals of a Slam just twice before – back in 2011 (US Open) and 2012 (Wimbledon).
But that win Down Under ignited something in the German, who went on to reach the Wimbledon final before her remarkable run in the Big Apple.
Over the past 52 weeks, Kerber has gone 66-20, including 48-14 on hard courts, 10-4 on clay and 8-2 on grass. She’s gone 12-3 in quarterfinals, 8-4 in semis and 3-5 in finals. She’s won twice as many matches as she’s lost against Top 20 players, including a winning record (9-8) over women inside the Top 10. Even Serena is only 1-1 against her this year, winning in the final on the grass of the All-England Club but losing at the same stage at the Australian Open.
Kerber entered the US Open saying she would like to be No. 1 one day, and she backed up her words with the kind of demeanor of a player who wouldn’t be defined by the number next to her name.
After all, plenty of great players, men and women, never reached that top spot. Elena Dementieva made nine Slam semis and two finals, and reached No. 3; Pam Shriver got to the final four of seven majors and the final of Wimbledon but never got higher than No. 3; and Mary Joe Fernandez contested three finals and three other semis but only reached No. 4.
And yet, despite all of the questions coming into New York about squandering an opportunity to surpass Serena in Cincinnati two weeks before the Open, her self belief, and her game, never wavered.
Kerber was guaranteed of the No. 1 ranking before the first ball of the final was struck, but she was still in uncharted territory. Never before had she contested a Slam final as the favorite, but those nerves were kept in check on the points that mattered most.
Kerber is the new US Open champion and a deserving world No. 1. She’s also the best player in the world right now – and that’s based purely on merit.

Q. How would you describe the Angie Kerber who was on the tour before 2016 and the Angie Kerber who has been on the tour this year?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think a lot of things change. I mean, 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 a lot in a lot of ways. To being here with my second trophy, it's just the best feeling ever.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about the ways you improved.
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I was really trying to improving a lot of things. First of all, of course, my fitness and then to being more aggressive and go for it when I have the chance. Not just hitting the balls over the net. Just playing my game. Because I know that when I practicing I can be aggressive.
Just make the transfer on the match court, that was the challenge. And also, mentally to being more positive, a little bit more stronger, and just focusing on the moment I am on court.
Q. In line with that, at the end of the second set, beginning of the third, looked like you were slipping back to the negative mode. Body language wasn't great and you were making some errors. How did you adjust and what was going on in your mind?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: That's true. 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.
I just told myself, Okay, stay positive. Believe still in your game. I was thinking a little bit on the final in Australia where I was also in the third set. I believed then my game, and I did it today, as well.
So that was in my mind to stop the negative emotions and change it again in a positive way.
Q. What did work in your game today that allowed you to win a tight match like that? What do you think the difference was?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think first I really start really strong in the first set. I was trying to making her move.
In the second set there was just one break. I think I was just believing in myself in the third set and just going for it. I was not too much like hoping. I think that was the key at the end of the third set, that I was trying to take the chance when I was feeling, okay, now, I have the chance to go for it; just go for it until the end.
Q. I know the No. 1 ranking is a title. Was there any part of that that made you believe a little bit more today, and do you feel like the way you gutted this thing out it validated to some degree that ranking you just earned?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, I mean, of course it's better feeling to win now my Grand Slam and being the No. 1 player in the world on Monday.
This what's happened in the last two weeks, it's just incredible. Also, how I was dealing with the pressure when I came here and everybody was asking me about the No. 1 number, actually. This was what I was trying to improving with the pressure.
And also, today, I mean, it's always tough to going in the final when I know the opponent beats me like two or three weeks ago. That was also a challenge what I told myself, Okay, I will do everything on court today to win the match against Karolina.
Q. Sports is a very concrete thing. You're always in the moment. But I have never seen a great champion talk about dreams so much. In Australia you talked about it. You said dreams come true. Very much the same sentiments today, talking about a dream. Talk about that a little bit more. Is it just beyond belief? Does it seem a little bit unreal? How important have your dreams meant to your success?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I mean, I was always dreaming to being one day to being No. 1 and to be in the Grand Slams. I'm not 18, so I was always trying to improving my game. I knew that I have the game to beat the best players and just being patient and working really hard.
And now to see that the work pays off, this is actually the best feeling. Because I was a lot of hours on the practice courts, sweating and everything, and you are just playing for this moment to being on the center court in the final and with the amazing crowd.
So this is what I was always dreaming for. That's why I'm talking a lot about that.
Q. Does it still feel a little bit unreal to you?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Actually, I don't know if it's unreal. I was feeling it in Australia that everything is really unreal. But right now I think I can also enjoy it. I'm really trying to take every single moment with me and all the positive emotions what I get now, and in the last few months.
Q. You spoke about a couple of the things that you have improved this year: your fitness and being more aggressive during matches. With the fitness, could you tell us a little bit about what specifically you might have changed or done differently this year? In terms of the aggressiveness in the match, was there a particular loss or a moment at some point maybe last season where either you or your coach said to you, Hey, you're losing because of this, or, To take the next step you need to change your game that way?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: First of all, with the fitness I'm really trying to playing more intense when I'm practice and not playing like maybe two, three hours just like that. I just go to court to being intense and spending a lot of hours as well on gym or like just making a lot of sprints and movement.
So this is what I change, especially in the preseason.
With aggressive, I played a lot of tough matches last year like three sets and especially here, as well, against Azarenka last year. That was also one match what I remember where I really just pushed the balls and I was not going for it.
So there were a lot of matches last year where I knew that I have to be aggressive to win it. This change also in my mind. To making the transfer is not so easy, but I think I did it well. I will try to improve this, as well, in the next steps.
Q. A lot of emotion when you sat down and you buried your face in the towel. Can you talk about that a little bit? Was it more joy or more relief?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: It was everything, I think. Because all the pressure on the last few months. I mean, to win here it's really special for me, because like I said, everything starts here for me 2011. This Grand Slam is, yeah, really, really special.
That's why, when I sit there, when I came back from my box, it was everything. I had just positive emotions. To being there like a champion this year, to hold this trophy, it's -- I don't know. I mean, I can't say it in words, actually.
Q. Did you ever wonder if you didn't have enough power or enough weapons in your game to be No. 1? Did you wonder about that and worry about it?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: No, I was always believing in myself. And like my team, as well. They are always believing in me. They are always telling me when I was also down, You are a really good player. You played tough matches against the best players in the world few years ago.
It was just the next step to beat the best players. To being consistent like I am right now, I think that was my next step after last year.
Also, when I sit down with my team and we spoke about 2016 to playing better in the majors and in the bigger tournaments and playing consistent. I'm fifth year in the top 1o, so this is what I'm doing good: being consistent but playing better in the bigger ones. This is what I changed this year. I was always believing in my weapons and about my tennis.
Q. Congratulations. Today some former No. 1 players, such as Navratilova and Arantxa Sanchez, had press conference, and they said when you are chasing for No. 1 position you don't feel much pressure. But once you became a No. 1 you feel it, because everybody wants to beat you and everybody expects you to win. I don't want to ruin this... (Laughter.) Talking about pressure...
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think I'm ready, yeah, to have this pressure on my shoulder, because I think I get used to all of this, especially after my first Grand Slam in Australia. I had so much pressure after the title.
And to being No. 1, of course now everybody will try to beat me and have nothing to lose. I will try to take this challenge, because it will be a little bit new situation for me. But at the end, I was always practicing and working hard to being No. 1.
Now I can also taking the next step and trying to staying as long as I can there.
Q. What did you see in that Cincinnati final, reviewing video of it? What did you change tactically?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Of course I know that Karolina is a tough opponent. She beat Serena two days ago, yesterday, and she played amazing tournament here.
So I knew she is, yeah, hitting a lot of aces during a match and I have to be ready for the very strong shots from her.
But I was trying to looking at the match yesterday as well with Torben and we watch the match a little bit. I was prepared actually for that.
I know I had to play my best tennis in the important moments. Yeah, just go for it when I have the chance. I mean, I was a little bit tired in Cincinnati, as well.
Here, I was just trying to take all my energy that I have left on this last match here.
Q. The tour is so relentless, and you'll have a number of commitments now being the US Open champion. When do you think you'll get a moment just to be on your own, actually absorb what you achieve?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think in the airport in the airplane. I mean, when I will sit in the airplane and have like few minutes for myself. Going back home in a few days and sitting together with my family and my friends, I think this is the moment where I can really think about everything what's happen in the last few months, few days here, and just try to, yeah, enjoy every moment then at home.
Q. I think people in general have trouble improving their confidence. It's really hard to do. Sounds like you're saying the fitness element was the most important part. Like in Australia you actually felt like a stronger person and stronger body.
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yes. And I felt this was one of the biggest things, when you know you can run forever on court and you're not worried that you can play three sets. I think this is really important for your confidence that you can play like two, three hours and you can go for it.
I think I was working a lot on these things. This gives me a lot of confidence, especially also in Australia where it's really hot. Today the conditions are actually the same: really humid. I was trying, you know, to believe in my fitness, believing in myself, actually.
I mean, I'm here in the final. So I played really good matches in the last few days. Yeah, that gives you a lot of confidence when you know you work very hard.
Q. 12 years since winning your first junior title; turning pro, another 15 years to win your first Grand Slam final and become a Grand Slam champion. Now upon becoming No. 1 in the world and achieving your dreams, what may you tell your children one day and others about what it takes to achieve dreams and persevere?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, you have to believe in your dreams. You have to go with a lot of patience. Yeah, working hard. Just have a great team around you and really love what you are doing. This is when you do everything and everything comes together one day.
I see it this year. I don't know. I think I will show a few videos my childrens in a few years, and just, yeah, I don't know, just tell them, you know, everybody -- just believe in yourself and do what you really love.
Q. I think you're the first female player, apart from Serena, to win two in a year. Winning two and being world No. 1 now, are you the rival to Serena that we have all been waiting for?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I don't know. I mean, Serena, for me, is one of the best players in the world. She is a great person and a great champion.
So, I mean, what she did for the sport, it's just incredible. For me, I'm trying to go my own way and trying to enjoy now every single moment with my second Grand Slam. It's one of my best years, so I will just try to continue this and just trying, as well, to improving my game and my personality, as well.
Just taking the next steps in the next tournaments.
Q. You went for the forehand, big forehand down the line. Do you think last year you would have had the conviction to go for such a shot at that moment?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think this shot was the key for the third set. When I was going down the line I knew, Okay, now I have to risk a little bit, because this is the only chance I can get. I took it, so I think this was really the shot of the match from my serve.
Yeah, when I won the point I knew, Okay, I have the feeling. Now just to go for it and making the mistakes I make like a lot of times before. I was not thinking too much that this is a final. I was just trying to take the challenge, third set, it's 3-All, and just go for it.
Q. Seeing what you did today and all year -- we saw what Pliskova and what Garbiñe did in Paris. Many new faces. Are you excited? Do you think there could be a new landscape to women's tennis?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I'm really excited because I'm seeing as well a lot of new and good players on tour. There are a lot of, yeah, players and they are working hard. They are playing great tennis.
I think, yeah, let's see what's happen, how they will play in the next few tournaments and the next Grand Slams. I think, yeah, it's good to have so many good players on the tour.
Q. Have you heard from Steffi Graf at all? What inspiration has she given you recently? Lastly, what did you watch of her when you were a little girl?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I watch a lot of matches, and I remember that all the matches were very fast. This is what I remember. (Smiling.)
Yeah, I mean, I heard from her yesterday or like two days ago. She was, yeah, wishing me luck for the final. Right now I don't know because my phone is somewhere, so I don't know how many messages I get now.
But, yeah, she was always my idol, and I told her so many times. She's a great champion, as well. For me it's really important to go on my own way. And to have her like in Germany with all the things she did also for the tennis, it's just amazing.
Q. Heard by text or phone?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Text.
Q. After you won the Australian Open, you were up and down until after the French Open. Did you ever doubt or think, Oh, my gosh; maybe I took off more than I can chew? How did you pull out of that and end up with a spectacular rest of the year?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: After Australia I had a little bit up and downs, but also because a lot of things happen and change. I think I had to take the time to get used to everything.
In Paris I had so much pressure on my shoulder. I couldn't deal this with me. After Paris I was sitting down at home and I told myself, Okay, just go for it and just practicing hard again. You did it once in Australia. You have still two Grand Slams in front of you.
That was actually trying to enjoying the tennis on court again and not, yeah, making too many things too complicated. Just trying to relax, enjoy every moment on and off court, and get used to everything.

Q. Welcome back to a place you must have incredibly special memories. A year ago, if you were in this position, would you have imagined you would be sitting here now as the champion?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I don't think so. I mean, a lot of things change, and especially here from last year. That was my breakthrough. Everything starts here. So it's nice to be back here actually. I have so many great memories.

But, yeah, it's great to start the first Grand Slam again here in Melbourne. Yeah, I'm looking forward actually to start this special tournament for me again.

Q. When you walked through the gates for the first time in the last week or so, is there a particular moment that came back to you at all?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, it was everything. The first day was really special when we was driving through the gates. Yeah, I was walking from the transportation to the locker room where I remember I was sitting like 12 months ago after the final. Nobody was there.

Now it's a new tournament again and we are starting from zero and everybody is here again to play their best tennis. So a lot of good memories. Also when I hit the first time on Rod Laver, that was really special, as well.

Q. What are your memories of that first-round match last year? How clear is that to you?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I still remember the match very well. I mean, I was thinking and talking about that match a lot of times already. I think this point where I was match point down, that was I think, yeah, the important point for my career. You never know when I lost the match what's happen then.

When I'm looking back, I was feeling that I getted the second chance to staying in the tournament. I was playing since then, like, without expectation, without nothing, just enjoying everything.

I will start, yeah, to coming with this feeling again here from the first round and playing, yeah, my best tennis. It's a new year. We will see what this year will bring. But, yeah, I will try to play my best and let's see how far I can get this year.

Q. Will it be harder to do that now that you're the No. 1 seed, world No. 1, to play with that expectation?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Of course, it's a little bit different than last year. But I think also that I get used to it in the last few months. It's a new challenge for me, that's for sure.

But, you know, it's a new tournament. We are starting from zero here. I have to be ready from the first round again. I will try to not putting too much expectation and pressure on myself. I mean, I will try to do it like last year. That was the way I had my success. I will try to continue that this year again.

Q. You talked about your best tennis. Are you searching for your best tennis at the moment? You lost a little earlier in the tournament last week. Are you not quite there at the moment?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: We will see. I think every tournament starts from zero. I played, like, in Brisbane last year little bit better. I reached the final. This year I lost a little bit earlier.

But, I mean, I'm not thinking about this tournament right now. Grand Slams are always different. Of course, the first rounds, as well. I'm feeling good. I was practicing good in the last few days here. Also my pre-season was very tough. So I hope that I can make the transition on the match courts here.

Q. What does it actually feel like to be No. 1 in the world?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, it feels good. A lot of pressure, as well. I have much more things to do. I mean, the day's schedule is a little bit tighter than 12 months ago.

But at the end I'm still trying to do my things like I was doing this before. It's just a number before my name. I will try, of course, to stay as long as possible there. But, yeah, it's a new challenge. I think that I'm ready for that challenge. Let's see how I can deal with that.

Q. Do even more people recognize you in the street and things like that now?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yes, I think so. Everywhere I am going, I go to the restaurant and airport or whatever. It's a little bit bigger than it was before.

Q. How does your schedule change with all these extra obligations? Make it harder to training or...
ANGELIQUE KERBER: My priority is always to playing tennis and practicing and doing my schedule with my tennis, of course. I mean, the schedule is tighter. I have not many hours for myself. But this is important for me what I learn, as well, in the last few months, that I have to take the hours for me where I can relax.

But, yeah, I have much more things to do around. That's changed. But I'm still trying to enjoying it. This is the part of being one of the best players. Yeah, that was always the goal. So I'm trying to living it now.

Q. Having lost early in the last few tournaments, is lack of match practice a concern for you going into the tournament?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I don't think so. I was practicing and playing a lot of matches, points, during my practice here. I think it was good to being a little bit earlier here, to get used to everything, to do my stuff, all the things I have to do off and on the court.

You know, I'm not thinking now that I was not playing so well in the last two tournaments. I'm here to being ready again from the first round. This is all I'm looking for now.

Q. Last year you said simplicity was kind of the big key to your two weeks here. You kept everything really simple, didn't complicate the tournament. It's a lot harder to do that this year. How are you handling that? How are you trying to keep this as simple a process as you can possibly make it?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Of course, it's a little bit harder. But I know that this is the only way to playing one of my best tennis. For me it's important that I have still the same team around me. They know me, so they know how to handle everything. They putting the pressure off me. They helping me a lot with other things, as well.

So I'm still trying to doing, like, just everything simple, not complicated, and just doing my rituals. So just going on court, practicing, all the stuffs I doing last years.

Q. Do you feel like maybe it might normalize, everything might ironically calm down once the tournament begins?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think so. I think once the tournament begins, I will get into the tournament rhythm again, of playing one match, having one day off, all these things. I think the tournament can start already because I'm already here few days. I'm ready to go.

Q. Yesterday we asked Roger Federer what it is like to become No. 1 going to a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. He was giving an idea of what Andy Murray might be going through right now. Do you feel different here this year as world No. 1? Do you think people look at you differently, other players?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think, of course, it's a little bit different to being here now No. 1 seeded. But at the end, I'm still the same. I'm still doing the same things. I'm not thinking too much that I'm, like, top seeded now. When I'm thinking like this, the pressure is much higher than I'm just doing my things like I do this before.

It's a little bit different because the days, what I'm here, much more tight, I have much more things to do. At the end when I'm on court, I'm still trying to play my game. My game is always what it was like few months, few years ago. I have still going on court and playing best tennis to have a chance to win. So that's not a big deal to change because I know that I have to go for it.

Q. From what you have seen of other players, is the more difficult thing to get to No. 1 or to stay there?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think both. I mean, for sure, first of all, you have to go there, get to the No. 1 place. What's not so easy, because you have to play really a consistent year, winning a lot of matches. To staying there, of course, it's harder than maybe to reach it because you have to deal with a lot of more things than you expect.

Yeah, it's completely new challenge. It's really different and difficult, as well. But I think this is also privilege a little bit. I'm really happy to be there and to taking now the new challenges.

Q. Could you give us an example of those new challenges you're facing.
ANGELIQUE KERBER: Of course. First of all, I mean, you have to deal with everything, with the pressure, with all your commitments and everything around. As well, to going on court, playing your own tennis. Thinking on court just how you would like to play, you know, not thinking too much about other things.

So the focus to going on court and just thinking about what you have to do there. You have to learn that a little bit. I think that right now, yeah, I get used to it. We will see how far and how I can deal with it here.

But, yeah, I'm positive and I'm looking forward.

Q. At No. 1, two Grand Slams, obviously the expectation around you can change. People might expect more of you. That creates pressure. Do you expect more of yourself?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: To be honest, I think it's the same feeling than when I won the Australian Open last year and I came to Paris and everything was new. Now that it's just I'm the No. 1. It's new as well, but I think the same situation.

For me, I'm expecting the same what I was expecting the years before from me: going out there, trying my best, fighting till the last point. This is always how I'm playing, how I am. This will be not changing because this is why I'm here. This is what I'm expecting from me: just going out there and trying playing good because I know that I'm ready, I had a great pre-season, and this is for me everything what counts right now.