Germany’s Angelique Kerber backed up her new billing as the best player in the world with her second career Grand Slam title, and her first U.S. Open trophy. Kerber won the back-and-forth affair 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, fighting from a break down in the third set and outlasting Pliskova in the two-hour, seven-minute match. She becomes the first German player to win the U.S. Open since her childhood idol Steffi Graf did so 20 years ago, in 1996.

• It’s a 10th career title for the 28-year-old, who broke through at the top level earlier this year with her shocking triumph at the Australian Open over Serena in the final.

• Kerber collects $3.5 million for the win and moves to 54-14 on the 2016 season, a year that has been better for her than anyone else on tour as she ascends to No. 1 at 28, the oldest player to ever do so for the first time.

• Kerber’s win broke a 11-match win streak for Pliskova dating back to her Cincinnati opener nearly a month ago. Pliskova denied Kerber the No. 1 ranking in Cincinnati, winning the title match over her in convincing fashion, 6-3, 6-1. Kerber, having won the silver medal at the Rio Olympics the week before, appeared out of gas.

• Pliskova was the first player to beat both Williams sisters at a major since the 2009 U.S. Open when Kim Clijsters did so, but could not emulate the Belgian’s success of winning the tournament outright. She earns $1.75 million for the runner-up effort, and becomes the first player since Amelie Mauresmo to make a Grand Slam final having not previously advanced past the third round.