WIMBLEDON, England — Serena Williams will not be the fourth mother in the Open era of tennis to win a Grand Slam title, at least not at this year’s Wimbledon.
The 36-year-old Williams was unable to find her timing against the talented southpaw Angelique Kerber, who dominated their Wimbledon final 6-3, 6-3 to win her third Grand Slam trophy in just 65 minutes Saturday.
“It was such an amazing tournament for me,” said Williams, who was choked up after the match. “I was really happy to get this far. It’s obviously disappointing, but I can’t be disappointed because there’s so much to look forward to. To all the moms out there I was playing for you today, and I tried.”
Williams, who was looking to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles, was playing in her first major final since giving birth to daughter, Alexis Olympia, last September. She won her 23rd Grand Slam title while pregnant at the 2017 Australian Open, which was the last tournament she played until Indian Wells in March of this year.
Kerber tumbled to the court and put her hand over her mouth in disbelief at how swiftly the victory came. In a move of great sportsmanship, Williams went over to Kerber’s side of the court and embraced the new Wimbledon champion.