Kerber wins 1st US Open title by beating Pliskova in final

German tennis player Angelique Kerber has solidified her place as World No.1 after lifting her maiden US Open title in the women's singles category at Flushing Meadows on Sunday.

Kerber, who became the new world number one after Serena's semifinal loss, showed her class when it mattered most to win her second Grand Slam of the year.

There were plenty of lengthy exchanges in the first set and Kerber tended to get the better of them, winning nine of 14 points that lasted at least 10 strokes.

If Williams can overcome a knee injury, the 22-time major champion could reclaim top spot this autumn given she has very few ranking points to defend after hardly featuring at the end of a year ago. Kerber took advantage of Pliskova's big-match nerves - evidenced by a couple of misses at the net - to break in the opening game. She righted her ship for Wimbledon.

But she was assured of that spot when Pliskova toppled Williams in the semi-finals. Because I was a lot of hours on the practice courts, sweating and everything, and you are just playing for this moment to being on the center court in the final and with the awesome crowd.

That leaves Kerber, the oldest player to make her debut at No1, as the woman to beat.

It is a style that she found hard to counter even though her twin sister Kristyna, a fellow player on the Tour, is also left-handed. I will try to take this challenge because it will be a little bit of a new situation for me.

"For me everything started here in 2011", she added, referring to when she made the semi-finals ranked No.92.

Djokovic, playing in his 21st Grand Slam final and seventh in NY, was quickest out of the blocks. So then it's also tough for me to serve because I don't have any free points from the serve'.

"She has more experience to play those finals than me so that probably decided this match", Pliskova said.

The late-blooming German becomes only the second woman to win her first two major championships after turning 28.

She added the US Open crown to the Australian Open title she claimed in January, breaking Pliskova at love to cap the triumph.

World No1 Angelique Kerber has revealed a good luck message from compatriot Steffi Graf fuelled her US Open final victory over Karolina Pliskova late on Saturday night.

Hence, Kerber knew what she was up against, and she came up with an incredible performance in the first set to clinch it 6-3. To win the trophy now, that's something really special to me. And after frittering away her first four break points, she converted her fifth with a lob-volley victor that curled over Kerber and alit right by the baseline. "This is what I remember", Kerber said. "I have the motivation to win every tournament I play in, especially the big ones". "Once she beat Serena in Australia, everybody thought, "Oh, we have a chance". "Then she has the whole court open (to play a winning shot)", said the 24-year-old.