Kerber's journey to Grand Slam history
Angelique Kerber has long been in the top 10, but her first Grand Slam success came at 28 years old. Here's a look at how she battled her way to the top.
2003: First year pro
Angelique Kerber started playing tennis agreed three. Born in Bremen, Kerber moved to Kiel with her parents to live in an apartment in a training academy, where mother Beata and father Slawek were working. At 15, Angelique Kerber chose to become a professional, and three years later she played her first major tournament in Hasselt.
2007: Into the top 100
Angelique Kerber won four titles on the ITF tour and climbed into the top 100 in May for the first time. She made the main draw for the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, but couldn't progress. In the first round in New York, she faced Serena Williams (r.) for the first time. Kerber battled, but Williams prevailed 6-3, 7-5.
2008: Round two
In the Australian Open, Angelique Kerber made the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time, taking in the Australian atmosphere for a little longer than before. Back then she had no idea that eight years later, it was here she would secure her greatest triumph.
2011: Nearly the end
Thirteen tournaments, but a place in the second round on just three occasions. It was the lowest point of Kerber's career, and the tennis star even considered retirement. Instead, she made a new start, working harder than ever and surprised everyone by making the semifinals of the US Open.
2012: The breakthrough
Top 20 in Februray, Top 10 in May and then the top 5 in October - Kerber had become one of the best players in women's tennis. Her first WTA victory came in Paris (photo), and another followed in Copenhagen. In Wimbledon, Kerber made the semifinals, and in Cincinnati she enjoyed her first triumph over Serena Williams (a quarterfinal win).
2013: Steady course
After a sensational 2012, it was time for Kerber to continue her success. She won a title in Linz (photo), but suffered a fair few defeats as well. She also took part in the WTA finals, where the best eight players of the season face off against one another.
2014/15: The return of an old face
Torben Beltz took Kerber to the top, but in 2014 the pair stopped working together for a while. "We both wanted to try something new" was the reason, and so Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh arrived. After poor form in 2015, Kerber returned to Beltz and rediscovered her winning formula.
2015: Consecutive wins
Germany's number one won four WTA titles (Birmingham title in the photo), something she hadn't managed in any year before. In her match against Victoria Azarenka in the US Open, she took part in one of the matches of the year, although she had to accept defeat. In 2016, she promised she would finally win one of the big ones.
2016: The crowning glory
As the first German since Steffi Graf, Angelique Kerber won a Grand Slam. In the Australian Open final she beat a familiar foe and the world's best female player, Serena Williams, and celebrated wildly: "This is a dream come true. These have been the two best weeks of my life."