Wimbledon 2018: Angelique Kerber beats Serena Williams in the ladies’ final to win her first SW19 title

ANGELIQUE KERBER spoiled the Serena Williams fairytale with a superb Wimbledon win.

Sporting royalty and two actual duchesses had gathered to see Williams try to become queen of Centre Court for the eighth time less than a year after having a baby.

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But the American seemed to struggle with the occasion and what she was on the brink of achieving.

And Kerber claimed her third Grand Slam title in sweet revenge for her defeat in the 2016 final.

Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton were sitting in Williams’ player’s box.

The Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and a good friend of her American compatriot, were in the Royal Box.

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But for once, Willams was far from regal on the court. The 36-year-old looked nervous right from the start.

She lost her serve from 30-0 ahead in the opening game and although she recovered the break to lead 3-2, she did not look herself.

There were too many mistakes as Kerber did well to push her around the court and use her own power against her.

Consecutive double faults brought up three break points for the German in the seventh game and Williams went long on the third.

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Kerber did not look back, holding serve and then breaking Williams again to take the set.

The American seemed to have found a turning point when a great volley at a crucial point helped her hold serve in the second game of the set.

She had a great chance to bring up two break points on the Kerber serve but inexplicably chose to pat-a-cake an overhead, giving the German time to crack a forehand down the line which she could volley only into the net.

Then Williams failed to kill another rally and Kerber brought up two break points, the second of which she converted for a 4-2 lead.

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Soon Kerber was serving for the championship.

At 15-0 ahead, she popped up a defensive shot which Williams ran in to put away, only to send it over the baseline.

Then, at two points from victory, it was Kerber’s turn to feel the nerves.

Suddenly serving was an agony. But she brought up match point with a lofted forehand which dropped right on the baseline.

And when Williams sent another backhand into the net, it was all over, in just 65 minutes.