Wimbledon 2018, Day 12: As it happened

Angelique Kerber defeated Serena Williams to lift her maiden Wimbledon title while Novak Djokovic moved into the final after beating Rafael Nadal.

Updated : Jul 15, 2018 10:54 IST

Angelique Kerber had lost the 2016 Wimbledon champion to Serena Williams in straight sets. Today, she reversed that result.
Angelique Kerber had lost the 2016 Wimbledon champion to Serena Williams in straight sets. Today, she reversed that result.
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Angelique Kerber had lost the 2016 Wimbledon champion to Serena Williams in straight sets. Today, she reversed that result.

10:15pm: The men's doubles final is up next on Centre Court. Jack Sock and Mike Bryan, who's playing his second Grand Slam without twin brother Bob, face Michael Venus and Raven Klaasen.

Sock's had a poor run in singles this year, losing in the first round at Wimbledon. In fact, he's not won a singles match since the US Clay Court Championships in April. Interestingly, he and his partner today both reached the 2014 Wimbledon doubles final, playing on opposite sides of the court. Sock and Vasek Pospisil beat the Bryan twins in five sets.

A win for Mike Bryan will tie him with John Newcombe as the most successful men's doubles players in tennis history. Bryan is currently tied in second place with twin brother Bob and Todd Woodbridge at 16.

For Venus and Klaasen, it's a second Grand Slam final. Venus won the French Open in 2017 with Ryan Harrison, while Klassen lost the 2014 Australian Open final while partnering Eric Butorac.

9:52pm: ANGELIQUE KERBER IS THE 2018 WIMBLEDON WOMEN'S SINGLES CHAMPION, DEFEATING SERENA WILLIAMS 6-3, 6-3.

Two years ago, Kerber reached the final here during her ascent to the world No.1 ranking. She lost in straight sets to Williams. Today, their positions are reversed. Angelique Kerber now has one title each at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Heartbreak for Serena Williams. History has eluded her today. But her career has been historic in itself: 23 Grand Slam singles titles from 30 finals, 14 doubles titles and two mixed doubles. She reached the final here in just her fourth tournament after returning to the circuit after the birth of her daughter. The greatest player of her generation and probably of the Open Era.

But today, the glory is all Kerber's.

9:51pm: Championship point for Kerber.

9:50pm: A stunning drop shot from Williams makes it 30-15, and a powerful backhand return forces the error from Kerber. It's 30-all.

9:48pm: Williams sends what should have been an easy winner long. Kerber leads 30-0.

9:47pm: Impressive serving from Serena Williams. A hold to love. Angelique Kerber will now serve for the match and the title at 6-3, 5-3.

9:44pm: An error-strewn performance by Serena Williams leaves Angelique Kerber one game away from the title. Williams will serve to stay in the match at 2-5 in the second set.

9:42pm: A stunning winner down the line from Kerber gives her the break and a 4-2 lead in the second set!

9:40pm: Kerber chases down everything Williams throws across and now has two break points.

9:39pm: A tremendous point as Kerber goes 30-15 up on Williams' serve. Williams really made her opponent work for that point. Or was it the other way round?

9:35pm: After fighting back to deuce from 40-0 down, two poor errors from Williams allow Kerber to hold serve for 3-2.

A win today will bump Kerber to no.4 in the world. For Williams, victory would mean returning to the top 20.

9:32pm: Williams holds. It's two games all in the second set.

9:27pm: Kerber holds. It's 2-1 to the German.

9:26pm: Serena Williams wins two powerful points as she goes up a gear or three, then flubs a chance to win a break point as Kerber fights back.

9:24pm: Williams screams as she holds serve for one all.

9:20pm: Kerber races through the opening game of the second set. She leads 6-3, 1-0.

9:17pm: Angelique Kerber wins the first set against Serena Williams.

9:16pm: Kerber has a set point on Williams' serve.

9:13pm: Kerber holds for a 5-3 lead.

9:09pm: Kerber breaks to go up 4-3 in the first set.

MATCH REPORT: Djokovic downs Nadal to reach fifth Wimbledon final

9:07pm: Two double-faults in a row from Williams, and Kerber has three break points.

8:58pm: Williams breaks Kerber. It's two all in the opening set.

8:57pm: Williams has three break points.

8:55pm: Williams holds serve. Kerber leads 2-1.

8:51pm: Kerber holds serve to lead 2-0 in the first set.

The German had displaced Williams from the No.1 ranking during a stellar 2016, where she beat Williams in the Australian Open final, lost to her in the Wimbledon final and won the US Open.

8:49pm: A shaky start for the seven-time singles champion. Kerber breaks in the opening game.

8:47pm: Serena Williams serves to begin the women's singles final at Wimbledon 2018.

8:37pm: Serena Williams is chasing a lot of history today.

First off, if she wins, she'll equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

Also, she'll go clear in third place for most Grand Slam titles won across disciplines. Williams is currently tied with Billie Jean King on 39. Second place is some way off in the distance: Martina Navratilova with 59 combined singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles. Court is the all-time leader with 64.

Williams will also become only the fourth mother to win a Grand Slam if she wins, emulating Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and, more recently, Kim Clijsters.

8:06pm: Next up on Centre Court is the women's singles final: Serena Williams versus Angelique Kerber. They've both been here before. Kerber lost to Williams in her only appearance in a Wimbledon final, in 2016. For Williams, this is final no.10, second only to Martina Navratilova's 11.

8:02pm: NOVAK DJOKOVIC BEATS RAFAEL NADAL TO REACH THE FINAL OF WIMBLEDON 2018.

The Serb prevails in five hours and 14 minutes, winning it 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11-9), 3-6, 10-8. Another classic from these two.

Djokovic reaches his first Major final more than two years after completing a career Grand Slam at the 2016 French Open. He'll have his chance of adding to his tally of 12 Grand Slams tomorrow, when he faces Kevin Anderson, the winner of not one but two marathon matches in a row. As for Rafael Nadal, he'll need to be satisfied with his 17 for now.

8:01pm: Djokovic has three match points!

8:00pm: Nadal goes down 0-30 on his serve. Djokovic sniffs blood.

7:57pm: Djokovic holds. It's 9-8.

7:54pm: Nadal holds serve with an ace. It's eight all in the fifth set.

We're past the five-hour mark. Seven minutes past, to be precise.

7:52pm: Match point for Novak Djokovic.

And what a save by Rafael Nadal!!

Deuce.

7:51pm: A breathtaking rally as Nadal fights to win the point and level the game at 30-30.

Djokovic seemed to have the point in the bag time and again but Nadal chased down every ball.

7:47pm: Novak Djokovic finally holds serve to lead 8-7.

7:46pm: It's deuce no.5 as Djokovic serves at seven all in the fifth set.

7:43pm: Iga Świątek of Poland wins the girls' singles title, defeating Switzerland's Leonie Küng 6-4, 6-2 in the final on the No.1 Court.

7:40pm: Nadal challenges a line call. And he's right. The ball was in. Another break point!

And what a point and what a return from Djokovic to save that!! A cross-court passing shot as Nadal charged the net.

7:38pm: An ace and it's deuce!

7:37pm: A double-fault by Djokovic gives Nadal two break points.

7:33pm: An ace from Nadal makes it seven all.

7:32pm: Djokovic screams after dumping the ball into the net for 30-30 on Nadal's serve.

7:29pm: It's 7-6 to Djokovic. Still no break of serve in the fifth set.

7:26pm: It's six games all in the final set.

We've had some extraordinary deciding sets over the past few days. Do we have another one on our hands?

7:21pm: Djokovic holds for 6-5.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have met 13 times in Grand Slams, with the world No.1 leading their head-to-head nine to four. Of course, six of those meetings came at the French Open.

7:17pm: It's Nadal's turn to serve himself out of trouble. It's 30-30. An ace and a service winner make it five all in the fifth set.

7:15pm: A wobbly start to the game by Nadal. He's down 0-30 on his own serve.

7:13pm: Game Djokovic, who now leads 5-4. Nadal will serve to stay in the match.

7:12pm: DEUCE! Djokovic serves his way out of trouble.

7:11pm: Djokovic sends the ball wide twice in a row, and Nadal now has two break points.

7:07pm: A stunning exchange as Djokovic chases down a drop shot, then replies to Nadal's lob with an overhead backhand cross-court shot, but Nadal hammers a winner for game point.

And the world No.1 holds serve. It's four all.

7:06pm: Djokovic has break point, but he sends Nadal's serve into the net.

6:59pm: It's quickly 4-3 in the fifth set as Djokovic holds serve. Who'll blink first?

6:56pm: It's three all as Nadal holds to love.

6:52pm: A quick hold of serve by Djokovic. He leads 3-2.

6:49pm: Nadal holds serve. It's two games all in the fifth set. We had two marathon fifth sets yesterday. Will we see another today?

Meanwhile, Diede De Groot of the Netherlands has won the women's wheelchair singles title for the second year in a row, defeating compatriot Aniek Van Koot 6-3, 6-2.

6:45pm: A good serve coupled with an equally good backhand helps Djokovic hold his serve and go 2-1 up in the fifth set.

6:38pm: That was quick. Djokovic holds serve and takes the first game without any reply from Nadal.

6:31pm: Nadal wins the fourth set 6-3.

The second seed challenges a line call. He was right. The ball clipped the line. It's an ace and the set for Nadal.

6:30pm: Nadal draws Djokovic to the net and then judges the return to perfection to bring up his first set point.

6:29pm: Make that three. It's deuce as Nadal serves for the set.

6:28pm: Nadal saves two break points.

6:26pm: Nadal double-faults to give Djokovic three break points now!

6:24pm: Nadal breaks! He's serving for the fourth set. We may be heading into a decider.

6:23pm: Nadal has two break points. Djokovic saves the first with a serve down the line that glances off Nadal's racquet.

6:19pm: Nadal holds for 4-3.

This is the third time these two are facing off at Wimbledon, 11 years after their first – in the 2007 semifinals. Nadal won that one after Djokovic retired during the third set. The second time was the 2011 final, where Djokovic captured his first title here.

6:15pm: It's three all in the fourth set.

6:09pm: Game Djokovic and it's back on serve in the fourth set. Nadal leads 3-2.

6:08pm: It's Djokovic's turn to hold two break points.

6:06pm: Djokovic holds to love. Nadal leads three games to one.

6:02pm: Nadal rushes to 40-0 on his serve with a mighty forehand. And he holds for 3-0 in the fourth set.

5:59pm: Nadal has two break points. And he gets the break!

5:55pm: What a game between Nadal and Djokovic!! This is why these two are among the greatest of all time. Fourteen minutes and counting.

And Nadal holds.

5:51pm: Djokovic has a second break point in a very long game. It's already been 10 minutes.

5:46pm: This is the 52nd meeting between Nadal and Djokovic – the longest men's rivalry in the Open Era – the Spaniard having won 25.

5:33pm: Rafael Nadal, the world No.1 and holder of 17 Grand Slam titles, and Novak Djokovic, the former world No.1 and holder of 12 Grand Slam titles, are set to resume their semifinal match on Centre Court.

The Serb leads by two sets to one. But, as history shows, delays and suspensions tend to work in Nadal's favour, as we saw in his French Open quarterfinal against Diego Schwartzman and the Rome final against Alexander Zverev.

5:15pm: We have our first result of the day. Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid win their third straight men's wheelchair doubles title at Wimbledon, defeating Joachim Gerard and Stefan Olsson 6-1, 6-4.

4:15pm: Once the pending men's semifinal match is over, Centre Court will see a replay of the 2016 women's singles final, with Serena Williams aiming for an all-time-record-tying 24th Grand Slam win and Angelique Kerber attempting to win her first Wimbledon title.

The American has looked better and better with every match, while the German has looked wobbly at times in the quarters and semis.

4:05pm: First, a quick recap of the events of Friday the 13th.

Two days after staring down defeat at the hands of Roger Federer, Kevin Anderson continued his run of marathons with the second-longest match ever played at Wimbledon, emerging victorious in the fifth set of his semifinal 26-24 against a man who won the longest tennis match in history on these very hallowed greens in 2010, the American John Isner.

Inevitably, the second semifinal was delayed after Anderson and Isner spent six hours and 36 minutes on Centre Court, and Noval Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will continue their match today, with the Serb leading two sets to one.

One wonders how much the lanky South African has left in his tank. The final scores of his last three matches read: 7-6, 7-6, 5-7, 7-6 against Gaël Monfils, 2-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 13-11 versus Federer and 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 26-24 against Isner.

Anderson has spent 21 hours and one minute en route to the final. Compare that with Nadal's 12 hours and 56 minutes up to the quarterfinals, or Djokovic's 10 hours 19 minutes.

4:00pm: Welcome to Sportstar 's coverage of the action on the penultimate day of Wimbledon 2018.

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