Greg Garber, Senior Writer 8y

Let's take a moment to recognize Kerber's accomplishments

Tennis

NEW YORK -- When she stepped on the court Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Angelique Kerber already had achieved a childhood dream.

When the new WTA rankings come out Monday, the 28-year-old German will be the WTA's No. 1-ranked player. That came courtesy of Karolina Pliskova, who earlier stunned Serena Williams in straight sets.

It ended Williams' run of 186 consecutive weeks at the top of women's tennis -- leaving her tied, appropriately enough, with another German, Steffi Graf, for the all-time record.

How do you play a major semifinal match 20 minutes after you've reached the pinnacle of a sport you've played since the age of 3? It would have been easy to revel in the moment, take a moment to reflect on the wonder of joining a most exclusive peer group that features only 22.

Or would the ascension to No. 1 free the left-hander to play a bolder, bigger game?

Kerber chose Option 2, controlling Caroline Wozniacki with ease, 6-4, 6-3.

In a game featuring two of tennis' best defenders, Kerber overpowered the former No. 1 player and two-time US Open finalist. And now, she's into her third major final of the season.

"I was watching the [first] match a little bit in the end," Kerber admitted in her on-court interview. "I was trying to focus and not think too much about that.

"I think [Graf] will be proud of me to be the next one after her."

Kerber becomes, by three years, the oldest player to be ranked No. 1 for the first time; Jennifer Capriati was 25 in 2000. Kerber is the first new No. 1 in four years, going back to Victoria Azarenka.

It's just another example of her peculiar powers of perseverance.

When the year began, none of this seemed a likely scenario. Kerber finished 2015 ranked No. 10 and had advanced to only one Grand Slam semifinal in 32 career events.

But back in January, she found herself in Melbourne, ripping through to the final, where she beat Serena in the season's first Grand Slam 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. There was a predictable swoon -- Kerber was one and done in Mardrid, Rome and Paris -- before she regained her footing.

In the Wimbledon final, Serena returned the favor, beating Kerber 7-5, 6-3.

Pliskova was probably the only one who didn't want to see a third Williams-Kerber final this year in a Grand Slam. A single match, with the No. 1 ranking on the line, would have generated a monumental buzz.

Instead, Kerber will have to be content with an opportunity to win her second major of the season -- the second of her career -- and lock down WTA Player of the Year honors.

What kind of No. 1 will she be?

Kerber is polite, generous and carries herself with poise.

It says here, she'll last longer than Mats Wilander, who held out for only seven weeks in 1988. Or Ana Ivanovic (three weeks in 2008) or Dinara Safina (two weeks in 2009).

But there is almost no chance she'll reign for 186 consecutive weeks.

And that should be the big takeaway here.

As we'll begin to realize in retrospect, Serena's command of the top spot, at the age of 34, was nothing short of amazing.

Consider this number, produced by ESPN Stats & Information:

In the more than three years she was No. 1, Williams won more titles (24) than lost matches (19).

Fun fact: Kerber is the first lefty No. 1 since Monica Seles (1996), and only the third overall, after Martina Navratilova.

Against Wozniacki, whose ranking has fallen to No. 74, Kerber was comfortably dominant, winning 65 of 117 points. She broke Wozniacki's serve no fewer than five of 10 times.

The only sign of nerves? When Kerber tried to serve out the match at 5-2.

On match point, Kerber's forehand was called good, but looked out. Wozniacki, for whatever reason, did not challenge. The replay, however, showed the shot was out.

"It's just incredible," Kerber said. "Yeah, it's a great day. I just tried to focus on this match.

"To be in the final, to be No. 1 in the world, it sounds amazing."

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