Wimbledon.com's highlights from the final day of the WTA Aegon Classic at Edgbaston Priory Club...
Coming into 2015, Germany's Angelique Kerber seemed to perpetually find herself in the role of bridesmaid. Though a top 10 mainstay since 2012 - spending 143 consecutive weeks in the elite between May 2012 and February 2015 - her record in WTA finals was a frustrating 3-9.
Two of the most heartbreaking losses had come in Kerber's two grass-court finals. At Eastbourne in 2012, five championship points came and went en route to a 7-5, 3-6, 5-7 loss to Austria's Tamira Paszek. Two years later, Kerber found herself on the wrong end of an epic again, losing 3-6, 6-3, 5-7 to American up-and-comer Madison Keys.
Ironically, it's since her top 10 streak ended that Kerber has changed this narrative. Kerber has now doubled her career haul of titles since April, winning back-to-back Premier events in Charleston and Stüttgart at the start of the clay swing and now adding the Aegon Classic's Maud Watson Trophy for her first tournament victory on grass.
Contrast in styles makes for top-notch final
Her 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Czech No.6 seed Karolina Pliskova was also, as it turned out, one of the finest WTA finals of the year. A classic contrast of styles between the speedy, versatile counterpuncher in Kerber and the big-serving power tennis of Pliskova, it initially seemed to be a reprise of Kerber's semi-final victory over compatriot Sabine Lisicki.
As in that match, Kerber was redirecting Pliskova's pace to the most awkward parts of the court with ease and, untroubled on her own serve, took a 5-3 lead. But the 23-year-old Czech has been notable for her clutch play throughout the week, and seemed to conjure up her finest shot-making and serving when her back was against the wall - saving 12 of 16 break points during the match. Pummeling Kerber's less versatile backhand, Pliskova took the first set tie-break with a sequence of scorching winners.
A visibly frustrated Kerber could have been forgiven for feeling déjà vu when the same story repeated itself as she served for the title in the final set - and for letting her mind drift back to all those heartbreaking final losses. But she never let her own game slip: time and again Pliskova would repel Kerber's assault on her serve, only for the German to remain equally solid. Instead of retreating at crunch time, Kerber simply found ever more creative ways to open the court and exploit Pliskova's movement - and after two hours and 16 minutes, it was the 27-year-old veteran pumping her fists in delight.
No regrets
Pliskova was equanimous in defeat: "I did everything I could so I'm not really disappointed," she said afterwards. "I have the feeling she's just everywhere!" As for Kerber, she paid tribute to her opponent graciously: "Karolina served unbelievably well in important moments, hitting the ball so close to the lines - I was just trying to fight and play point by point." Both women are off to Eastbourne for a final week of warming up on grass before Wimbledon - but Kerber promised to find time tonight for a celebration of "a lot of pizza and a little champagne".
Spaniards take doubles title
No.3 seeds Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro first teamed up in March last year - and within two months had made the prestigious Madrid Open final. Today, they collected their second title together after Stanford last August, beating the Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-4. They had entered the event with few expectations for a surface on which neither are most comfortable - but whereas this had been the undoing of both in the singles draw, their relaxed attitude seemed to loosen them up on the doubles court. Suárez Navarro attributed their success to their contrasting games and physiques: "We are so different - she's so tall and I'm, you know…" joked the 5'4" player during the trophy ceremony.
Tweet of the Day
Thank you Birmingham,happy about my week here..will come back stronger. #aegonclassic https://t.co/Q5Y9KtdyMD
— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) June 21, 2015
