Kerber Beats Serena Williams, Djokovic Wins Men's Tennis Title

Two weeks ago, Angelique Kerber came within one point of exiting the Australian Open in the opening round. Six matches later, she can call herself a Grand Slam champion.

The No. 7 German took advantage of a noticeably tense Serena Williams on Saturday, triumphing 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to win her first major title and thwarting the American's bid to match Steffi Graf's record of 22 major wins.

It wasn't long ago that Kerber was toiling in mediocrity. In 2011, she lost 11 consecutive first-round matches, but her vision was clear from the beginning of this tournament -- that no matter what, she'd never let the pressure of a big moment get to her again.

Mission accomplished. Two hours, 8 minutes into a drama-filled battle, Williams overcooked a forehand volley on match point, sending Kerber sprawling to the ground in tears. Overwhelmed, Kerber sauntered to her chair and looked to the crowd, eventually making her way over to her camp.

"I got my second chance, and this is my dream come true," said Kerber, who was born five days before Graf won her first Australian Open title in 1988. "My whole life I am working really hard, and now I am here and call myself a Grand Slam champion."

She joins Graf as the only German women to win a Grand Slam title in the Open era.

Djokovic Captures Sixth Australian Open Title

The pantheon of tennis' all-time greats is getting awfully crowded at the top.

With a 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (3) win over No. 2 Andy Murray on Sunday, No. 1 Novak Djokovic captured his record sixth Australian Open title and tied legends Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg with his 11th Grand Slam title.

For more than a year, Djokovic has taken the game to an extraordinary new level. He has now seized three consecutive major titles for the second time in his career.

Impressively, Djokovic is doing this in an era that still features Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

"Every Grand Slam title is very significant in its own way," Djokovic said. "Here, because of the fact that I managed to make history tonight and equal Roy Emerson's six Australian Open titles. Very honored to be mentioned alongside legends of our sport by Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver, win as many Grand Slams as they did.

"I can't lie and say I didn't think about it. Of course it was in back of my mind. Coming into the court, I knew that I have a chance to make the history. Of course it served as a great motivation, as a great imperative to play my best."

A year after going 82-6 with 11 titles -- a season that was thrust into the conversation of the greatest ever -- Djokovic is off to another sterling start.