Serena Williams' hopes of clinching a record-equalling 22nd grand slam title were dashed as Germany's Angelique Kerber pulled off a stunning victory to win the Australian Open.
Kerber was defending the Open-era best tally of her compatriot Steffi Graf and she did it playing the match of her life, beating Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4 to claim her first major title.
Completing victory after two hours and eight minutes, Kerber lay outstretched in disbelief on Rod Laver Arena, having sealed one of the biggest shocks in tennis history.
Williams was stalking the net from the very first point, sticking away a backhand volley with ease but Kerber was undeterred and responded with a scintillating cross-court winner en route to a break for 2-1.
The shot seemed to give the crowd belief and Kerber too, as the German was firing off winners from the baseline and pushing Williams into careless mistakes.
Williams tried to yell herself into life but her forehand continued to malfunction, as she ballooned one long and then crashed another into the net before screeching in disbelief.
A thundering backhand return gave Williams the break back but parity was temporary as Kerber came again, breaking for 4-3 when her opponent blazed a drive volley long.
It was like the top seed was playing with a frying pan as, to her great dismay, a short forehand flew out, a backhand flashed wide and another volley almost reached the backboards it was so far long.
Kerber just had to keep the ball in court and as the pressure fell on her to serve out at 5-4, the German delivered when a Williams backhand hit the net.
Williams regained some composure at the start of the second set and Kerber gave her the encouragement she needed, as two double faults gifted the American a break and 3-1 lead.
The German was still defending brilliantly, with her latest addition to the highlights reel a forehand pass, unleashed while apparently in mid-air.
Williams, however, though far from perfect, was finding her groove and she served out with relative ease to take the set 6-3 and force a decider.
Many times Williams has stumbled into a third set before motoring to victory but Kerber halted her opponent's momentum immediately with a hold and early break.
The crowning moment came when the American failed to put the ball away and as Kerber drove a half-volley pass into the gap, the crowd rose to their feet and the German pointed her finger up to the sky.
It was the sort of point many matches would turn on but Williams is an exceptional case and she recovered immediately to break back and level at 2-2.
Kerber held and then a mammoth 11-minute game ensued at 3-2 which began with Williams taking a hit on the shoulder as the ball kicked up off the net and ended up even more damaging as the German seized the break.
She played two superb drop-shots to save game points and then converted a fifth break point of her own when a Williams backhand flew long.
Kerber held but so did Williams, leaving it to the German to serve for the title at 5-3. She failed to do so as a backhand drifted out and now it was Williams serving under pressure as she trailed 5-4.
At deuce, Williams put a forehand into the net giving Kerber Championship point and she converted as a backhand flew long, prompting the German to drop to floor in stunned celebration.
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