Germany’s Angelique Kerber stunned world number one Serena Williams in three sets to win her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. Kerber, seeded seventh, won a thrilling final 6-4 3-6 6-4 at Melbourne Park. The 28-year-old is the first German to win a major singles title since Steffi Graf at the 1999 French Open. Williams, 34, was beaten for just the fifth time in 26 Grand Slam finals, and the American missed the chance to tie Graf’s open-era record of 22 titles. Kerber, who saved a match point in her first-round win over Misaki Doi, will move up to number two in the world rankings.

Kerber had won just one of six previous matches against Williams and was making her Grand Slam final debut, but she was the better player over two hours and eight minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams, 34, smiled as she accepted her silver platter from Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, a four-time champion. She congratulated Kerber on a victory that she described as deserving, than ceded the stage. After the match Serena said “Would I give my performance an A? No, but this is all I could produce. I’m not a robot. I do the best that I can. I try to win every point but realistically I can’t. Maybe someone else can.”