Wimbledon 2016: Serena Williams makes history as she battles past Angelique Kerber in the women’s final at the All England Club

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3.38pm – Commiserations to Kerber. She battled hard, she battled well, but this was peak Williams. After early struggles in this tournament, she’s flown through the latter stages of the tournament and reigns supreme. The deserved champion.

That’s it from SunSport today, we’ll be back tomorrow for ANDY MURRAY v MILOS RAONIC in the men’s final of Wimbledon.

3.36pm – SERENA WILLIAMS IS WIMBLEDON CHAMPION. The American rifles her way to the match with arguably her strongest serving performance of the tournament. She is now the joint most decorated women at Grand Slams ever, tied with Steffi Graf at 22 apiece. Incredible stuff.

3.33pm – Oof. Another stunning points leaves Williams on her knees as Kerber takes the thriller. But suddenly, Williams finds herself at break point AND TAKES IT. Williams will serve for the match, the championship and the record, of course…

3.28pm – But Williams continues to slug away with some beastly serves in this match. The big difference here on Centre Court is the free points the American can earn with her serve. Kerber manages to sneak to 15-30, but can’t keep her nose in front long enough. Story of the match, really. But suddenly, the German earns her FIRST break point of the match… Only to be snuffed out by two mega serves of the racquet of Williams. She steals the game. How big could THAT moment be?

Elsewhere today there was some good news the British contingent…

3.24pm – What a point at 30-30. Such a crucial juncture in the game and ultimately, it came down to will as Kerber battled until the final breath to give herself a 40-30 lead, rather than concede a break point. How big could that moment be? She holds…

3.20pm – It’s time for Kerber to make a move on the Serena serve now, you feel. We’re fairly deep into the second set and she’s yet to earn herself a break point… No sniff here either as Williams holds for a 3-2 lead.

3.16pm – The German is staying positive though, which is good to see, reeling off three thrilling points in a row. She goes on to hold after a couple of the points of the tournament. Some really top-drawer tennis on show at SW19.

3.12pm – More aggressive play from Kerber gives her a head-start on the Williams serve, but when the American serves this well, it’s so tricky to break. Angelique can’t Kerb her enthusiasm as she polishes off a cracker of a rally to get to 40-30, but can’t hold off Serena’s serve forever as the American holds.

3.08pm – Wow. A screamer of a forehand down the line puts Kerber 40-15 up on serve. She’s clearly fired up for this as she comes through her service game with aplomb. 1-1.

3.06pm – Serena starts strongly to go 1-0 up in the second set.

Here’s the story of the first…

3.03pm – How will that set have affected Kerber mentally? She came close but fell short at the final hurdle. Can she bounce back? We’re about to find out…

3.02pm – Ah. Has Kerber cracked? Suddenly two unforced errors in a row gift Williams two set points. The German saves the first after an ill-advised dropshot attempt from the No1 seed… But she can’t save the second as WILLIAMS WINS THE FIRST SET 7-5.

2.57pm – Now then… Is this a chance for Kerber? She forces Williams into a pair of errors to take a 15-30 lead on the American’s serve, but a monster serve levels proceedings at 30-apiece. Another shriek of ‘come on’ from Williams as an ace seals the game for 6-5. Pressure instantly back on Kerber on Centre Court.

2.54pm – How’s Kerber’s nerve? This is the first real moment where she’s been under serious pressure. I believe the phrase is ‘cool as a cucumber’. She holds to 15. 5-5. Over to you, Miss Williams…

2.51pm – It seems British star Laura Robson is enjoying this match so far, adding to an already huge number of Beyonce references during this match. The singer is in the crowd as a guest of Williams alongside husband Jay-Z.

https://twitter.com/laurarobson5/status/751775398170652673

2.50pm – “C’MON” cries after a whipped cross-court forehand gives here a 30-15 lead. An ace follows before she takes a tumble chasing a wide Kerber shot. She’s up, but can only watch as the German polishes off a sublime rally with a backhand slice, cross-court dropshot. A moment of magic for deuce. Williams keeps the next one brief, with an ace, before grabbing the game shortly after.

5-4 now and Kerber is serving to stay in the first set.

2.46pm – We’re already into the eighth game… But who will blink first? Kerber races to 30-0 on serve, before being pegged back to 30-30 by Williams following some energy-sapping baseline rallies. But two uncharacteristically big serves from the German clinch the game. 4-4.

2.42pm – A thriller of a rally at 30-15 comes to end as Williams clips a delightful volley out of Kerber’s reach. But the German rallies for deuce to put pressure on the No1 seed’ serve. But Williams holds for 4-3 after yet another stunning rally. It’s been a fun match to watch so far.

2.37pm – Just as simple a hold for Kerber and we’re racing towards the business end of the first set.

2.33pm – Quick hold this time for American. 3-2 at the change of ends.

2.31pm – Williams already showing her emotions as yet another dodgy bounce gifts Kerber a simple start to her second service game. A mix of stunning tennis and equally poor unforced errors makes for an, err, interesting game, but Kerber enjoys a much simpler hold than her first. 2-2 here in the first set.

2.26pm – Huge hold that. It took some luck, but Kerber is on the board. No such drama for Williams as she blitzes through her service game with ease, sealed once more with an ace.

2.23pm – Right, what’s Kerber got in her locker? Her serve is not her forte and we know Williams is a tenacious returner… Instantly the top seed goes on the offensive, racing to 15-30 with some thunderous blows from the short ball. The German No4 seed recovers for 30-30, but Williams bags her first break point of the match after a stunning rally. Once again the German springs back into life to force deuce, but Williams earns another chance to go 2-0 up… But fails to convert. She eyes a third after another remarkable return-winner, but the ball takes a bad bounce on the second serve. Lucky escape for Kerber as she eventually clings on to hold.

Time for a random stat update…

2.17pm – Crunch. Kerber kicks off the first game with a powerful forehand winner down the line. Williams thunders back with a ferocious backhand winner though. A cracking start to this match… The American holds comfortably in the end, polishing it off with an ace.

2.14pm – It’s Williams to serve first. Play…

2.11pm – Here is your two-minute warning. Grab that cuppa and polish off you sarnies, it’s nearly time…

2.04pm – Here’s what Williams and Kerber – and Andy Murray and Milos Raonic tomorrow – are playing for…

2.03pm – Both players are out on the turf and about the go through the usual pre-match formalities… Either way, we’re just minutes away from the main event now: Finals weekend at Wimbledon. Does it get any better than this?

2.02pm – The American world No1 takes on German No4 seed Kerber – who beat Serena’s big sister Venus in the semi-final on Thursday. Can she become only the fourth player ever to kick both sisters to the Kerb in this one?

2.01pm – Williams of course can make history today as she aims to equal Steffi Graf’s incredible record of 22 Grand Slam titles in the Open era. Can she do it?

2pm – Welcome to SunSport’s live blog from Wimbledon – as Serena Williams takes on Angelique Kerber in the women’s final on Centre Court.