Angelique Kerber became the first German woman since Steffi Graf 22 years ago to win the Wimbledon title as the 11th seed denied Serena Williams a slice of history with an emphatic 6-3, 6-3 victory in Saturday's final.
Kerber avenged her defeat against Williams in the 2016 Wimbledon title match, overwhelming the seven-time champion in 65 minutes on Centre Court.
"I knew I had to play my best tennis against a champion like Serena," Kerber said. "It was my second chance to play in the final. I think I'm the next one after Steffi who won. That's amazing."
Williams, 36, had hoped to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slam singles titles by winning her first major prize since becoming a mother in September.
The American, who last won a grand slam at the 2017 Australian Open, went into the final as the favourite, even though she was playing only the fourth tournament of her post-pregnancy comeback.
But instead world No 10 Kerber sprang a huge surprise, making her Germany's first female champion at the All England Club since Graf in 1996.
"It's obviously disappointing but I am just getting started," said Williams after losing in the Wimbledon final for the first time since 2008. "For all you mums out there I was playing for you. I really tried."
The moment @AngeliqueKerber won #Wimbledon for the first time 🏆#TakeOnHistory pic.twitter.com/GsySRMNXaq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
Graf helped Kerber get her game on track earlier in her career, so it was an especially sweet moment for the 30-year-old to follow in her footsteps at Wimbledon.
Kerber had endured a slump last year after wining her previous major titles at the Australian and US Opens in 2016.
But back to her best on the grass at Wimbledon, she needed only 11 winners and one ace to deny Williams, who contributed to her own downfall with 24 unforced errors compared to only five from Kerber.
Left needing several life-saving operations to deal with the threat of blood clots after her daughter Olympia's birth, Williams was unable to walk for six weeks and even now is still haunted by harrowing flashbacks to that period.
"I think I’m the next one after Steffi who won - it’s amazing"
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
A special moment for @AngeliqueKerber, #Wimbledon champion pic.twitter.com/aTTNqo2CJp
Winning Wimbledon with Olympia at the tournament with her was supposed to be the crowning glory of her return to the top.
But Williams' 30th grand slam final got off to a rocky start as she dropped her serve with four unforced errors in the opening game.
Play had started two hours late due to the conclusion of Novak Djokovic's win over Rafael Nadal in the men's semi-finals, and it was Williams who looked more affected by the delay
She briefly hit back, breaking to love in the fourth game, but then produced another error-strewn effort, including two double faults, to gift a 4-3 lead to Kerber.
Although Williams was on a 20-match winning run at Wimbledon and had lost only one set en route to the final, she was completely out of sorts, spraying wild groundstrokes wide time and again.
"I was really happy to get this far. For all the moms out there, I was playing for you today"
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2018
Grace, poise and emotion. A runner-up's interview given by a true champion.@SerenaWilliams 👏 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/jjtw3cWyEq
Kerber, cleverly moving Williams into awkward positions, took full advantage, winning four games in a row to wrap up the set.
The 11th seed knew what it took to beat the former world No 1 in a grand slam showpiece after winning their 2016 Australian Open final.
She kept nagging away at Williams and induced more miscues from the American in the sixth game of the second set.
On break point, the left-hander landed the knockout blow with a fierce forehand winner down the line that left Williams grasping in vain to reach it.
When Williams made another mistake to lose the next game, she gestured to her coaching team with a look of despair. Her agony only increased with a woeful volley that flew long to put Kerber within two points of the title.
Moments later, Williams' misery was complete as a tame return left Kerber wiping away tears of joy.
