US Open champ Kerber replaces Williams at No. 1 in rankings

Kerber has cemented her spot at the top of the women's rankings after her spirited victory over Karolina Pliskova in a pulsating grand finale played out at Flushing meadows on September 10.

"When I was a kid I was always dreaming to one day be the number one player in the world, to win grand slams", said Kerber, who hadn't won one of the four major tournaments before this year.

She is Known for her aggressive counter-punching all-court game and left-handed shots. Major counts also fail to capture two aspects of Williams' career that many believe make it especially noteworthy: the magnitude and the longevity of her dominance in the sport.

Meanwhile, Heather Watson's position of British number two is now coming under threat from Naomi Broady - they are ranked 74th and 78th respectively following the conclusion of the final Grand Slam event of the season. While she was down a break in the third set, Kerber ultimately pulled through, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Kerber recommitted herself to her fitness and developed power - particularly on the forehand side - that elevated her game beyond garden-variety counterpunching. Her performance against Karolina Pliskova has earned her lots of attention, and has turned sports commentators' attention to the future of the sport. It wasn't long that Kerber entered the junior circuit where she participated in tournaments in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

"Winning the second grand slam, it was a bit different", she told a news conference in Munich following her return to Germany.

Finally, Kerber touched down at home to receive a brand new Porsche to commemorate her best-ever season, one that saw her capture two Grand Slam titles in three final appearances, win a silver medal at the Olympic tennis event, and, of course, become the first German to become No.1 since idol Stefanie Graf.

Kerber had started the year by winning the Australian Open but said her triumph in NY on Saturday, coupled with the number one ranking, had now taken off any pressure. Or even at the beginning of the 2016 Australian Open, when she faced match point in the first round and nearly flamed out.

Kerber, the No. 2 seed, won her WTA Tour-leading 54th match of 2016.

"You can not compare those two (Serena Williams and Kerber)", explained Pliskova.

Pliskova began to get comfortable in the second set, however, and both women battled back and forth in each game. "It all started for me here in NY five years ago when I reached the semi-finals and now I am here with the trophy", she added. "But it's all gone well", Kerber said. But Wawrinka did not let up, as he took advantage of his service game and subsequently broke Djokovic in the final game to even the match up at one set apiece.

Early in what would become a tight test of a U.S. Open final, Angelique Kerber sprinted forward to somehow reach a drop shot and scoop a down-the-line victor that landed in a corner of the court.

She beat Kerber in decisive fashion three weeks ago in the Cincinnati final. "She deserved to win today". "If she's a break down, she never gives up".