Sports
US Open: Kerber relishes trophy, world No. 1 title
ANGELIQUE Kerber climaxed a dream season at the US Open early Sunday morning, performing as the champion she has become through hard work, patience and a love of the game.
Kerber wiped tears of joy before accepting a winner’s check for US$3.5 million and a gleaming silver trophy after rallying to beat Karolina Pliskova in a display worthy of the new world No. 1 player in women’s tennis.
The 28-year-old German finished last year ranked 10th in the world and turned dreams into a reality this year after rededicating herself. “I was really trying to improve a lot of things,” she explained following her 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 triumph after falling a break down in the third set.
Read also: Wawrinka battles Djokovic in US Open final
“First of all, 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.
“And also, mentally, to being more positive, a little bit more stronger, and just focusing on the moment I am on court.”
Left-hander Kerber used to get down on herself when mistakes piled up. It showed in her body language and in her results.
“I was always dreaming to being No. 1 and to be in the grand slams,” she said.
“Now to see that the work pays off, this is actually the best feeling.”
RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: How N70m road construction created more hardship for Sokoto residents
“To address recurrent accidents on Gagi to Gidan Dilo road and Fakon Idi roads, in Sokoto State, the Federal Government,...
INVESTIGATION: Inside Kwara school where students are used as labour on teachers’ private farms
In this report, SHEREEFDEEN AHMAD uncovered how young students in Kwara State, Nigeria, are being used for labour work on...
INVESTIGATION: How Kano SUBEB awarded contracts to inactive contractors, non-existent schools
In an effort to address issues hindering quality education, the Kano State Government in 2020 awarded N88,406,667.10 for the construction...
SPECIAL REPORT: Hike in gas price forces more Nigerians to use coal, sawdust, as smoke kills 93,300 yearly
In the build-up to the 27th Conference of Party (COP 27), Nigeria recently launched its energy transition plan (ETP) as one of...
INVESTIGATION: How roadside foods endanger consumers’ life with trans fat in northern Nigeria
With an estimated 854,000 deaths in Nigeria, and 3,229 attributed to trans fatty acids (TFA) -related cardiovascular deaths, ADESOLA IKULAJOLU visited Nigeria’s...