It’s been two decades since Steffi Graf won her last Australian Open, but her presence looms large over Saturday’s final.
Serena Williams is one match away from tying Graf’s Open era record of 22 Grand Slam titles.
The only obstacle for No. 1-ranked Williams is Angelique Kerber, a 28-year-old German who is seeking Graf’s advice on how to win the biggest match of her life. “Steffi, write me please,” Kerber said jokingly in an on-court interview after advancing to the first Grand Slam final of her career.
Graf did just that, in a text message, the No. 7-seeded Kerber said Friday.
“She told me, ‘Congrats,’ and she is happy for me, and good luck in the finals.”
Kerber has joked that it’s her national duty to protect the record of Graf, the last German to win the Australian Open in 1994. Over the course of the two-week tournament, Graf’s name has come up repeatedly in both Kerber’s and Williams’ post-match conferences.
Kerber has talked about how she grew up watching Graf’s matches and later studying them on YouTube.
“She is still in shape and she is hitting very hard, and moving still like she was moving a few years ago,” said Kerber, who has been in the Top 10 for four years but until this week had never advanced past a Grand Slam semifinal. “I was really focusing. The intensity was very high.” Graf also gave her advice, which she is trying to live by. “She taught me actually that I’m on a good way, and try to believe in myself. I was trying to do it in the last few months,” Kerber said.
Kerber has played Williams six times before, and beaten her once, in 2012, which gives her confidence.
Williams is trying not to think too much about matching Graf’s 22 career titles. “I definitely block it out. I was one off last year, too. If I don’t win on Saturday, I’ll still be one off,” Williams said.
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