Sabine Lisicki concluded Serena Williams' reign miraculously as Wimbledon champion as the 23rd seed German clinched a stunning 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 victory over the world number one in the fourth round on Monday.
Lisicki, who played Estonia's Kaia Kanepi for a place in the final four, has an impressive Wimbledon record. She reached the quarter-finals thrice and the last four in 2011. Undoubtedly, this incredible upset on Centre Court was her greatest achievement at the All England Club till date.
Unfortunately, the 23-year-old has failed to crash past the fourth round in 16 Grand Slam appearances outside Wimbledon, but she proved herself on the grass-courts of south-west London. Lisicki broke into tears while admitting that she is still shaking and very happy. She asserted that Serena played a fantastic match. She was such a tough rival and it is just an amazing feeling to win. She revealed that the crowd was so amazing and she loves this court so much. It is such a special place for her. She enjoyed it and played some unbelievable shots. She was just fighting for every single point and hanging in there.
Her victory was remarkable. Despite encountering the most ferocious hitter in the history of women's tennis, Lisicki dramatically matched Serena blow for blow. She unloaded more winners and served more aces as compared to the five-time Wimbledon champion in two hours and four minutes. Arguably, this was the most astonishing result of all in a tournament most memorable this year for the fall of its biggest stars.
After an upsetting first round loss against Virginie Razzano in last year's French Open, Williams had been inexorable, winning 77 of her 80 matches and winning the Wimbledon, US Open, French Open and Olympic titles in the process. The 31-year-old had swept through the first week, dropping 11 games in her commencing three matches to extend her victory run to 34 matches.
On the other hand, Lisicki's game was perfectly suited to grass and right from the beginning, it was clear that she was capable of upsetting the odds as she hauled a break point in the fourth game of the match. In return Serena saved it and unleashed a shriek 'come on' that suggested that she was well aware of the threat.
Lisicki didn’t stop and she continued the pressure on Williams, grabbing another break point in the sixth game which she converted when the American blazed a forehand wide. Subsequently, Serena appeared upset, gesticulating to her French coach Patrick Mouratoglou and swiping at the turf in frustration as Lisicki punished another shaky service game. By the time Lisicki concluded the set, she had won four games. Serena hit back in the third game of the second set during the run of 14 successive points for the American. She continued the set with two more breaks and by the time Williams scored a 3-0 lead in the deciding set, she had got victories in nine successive games.
Williams' concentration faltered with the finish line in sight, allowing Lisicki an advantage as the German crashed into the fifth game. When Williams broke straight back, Lisicki wouldn't surrender and a subsequent break from the German scored it 4-4. Lisicki returned on top and she broke for a 5-4 lead when Williams sent a smash only beyond the baseline. However, Lisicki couldn't convert her first match point by sending a forehand long. Further, a double-fault gifted Serena a break-point, but the German saved it with an ace. Later, a big serve brought Lisicki a second match point. This time she grasped her chance, concluding an epic upset with a dazzling winner.
