Kerber, ranked sixth in the world and seeded seventh at
Melbourne Park, claimed her first major singles title with a
6-4, 3-6, 6-4 defeat of Williams, who was chasing a seventh
Australian Open crown.
The 28-year-old becomes the first German to win a
women's major singles final since Steffi Graf claimed the
French Open in 1999.
An emotional Kerber said it had been a lifelong dream to
win a major.
"My whole life I was working really hard and now I am here
and I can say I am a grand slam champion," she said at the
post-match presentation ceremony.
"So it sounds really crazy and unbelievable. Of course I
would like to say thank you to my team, to my team who
are supporting me like my whole life, my family."

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