Highlights, Wimbledon 2018 women's final: Angelique Kerber beats Serena Williams to claim first title

More action tomorrow

What an absorbing day of tennis this has been. It started with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal resuming their semi-final that the Serbian won in five gruelling sets. And then came the ladies singles between Angelique Kerber and sentimental favourite Serena Williams. Kerber showed her intentions early, cruising to a 0-3 lead before Serena won the next three games. But thereafter, it was the Kerber show all the way as her baseline defence, return game, and an error-prone opponent combined to give her her maiden Wimbledon title. 

Both Kerber and Djokovic won two Slams and reached a major final in 2016, had a forgettable 2017, and made their way to Wimbledon 2018 final. Kerber crossed the final hurdle in style,and Djokovic will be up against the big-serving Kevin Anderson tomorrow for his shot at glory.Do join us for LIVE scores and updates on the last day of The Championships. Till then, it's goodbye from us!

Kerber's date with history

Angelique Kerber becomes the first German - man or woman - since Steffi Graf to win the Wimbledon singles. The last German woman to win the Wimbledon was Steffi Graf in 1996, while Michael Stich won the men's singles in 1991.

She's done it!

Clinical stuff from Kerber

What a match this for Kerber. She always looked in control, and apart from losing three games on the trot in the first game, never looked in any trouble. Her defence was impeccable, and her baseline was powerful as ever.

Angelique Kerber wins Wimbledon 2018

What a rally! 20 incredible shots before Kerber falls to Serena's drop shot. It's still 30-15 in German's favour, and Serena makes it 30-30 witha sizzling return. Kerber moves to Championship point with with a pin-point return, and Serena finds the net on return! That's it! Angelique Kerber drops to the ground as she wins her maiden Wimbledon.

Kerber on verge of her maiden Wimbledon title

It's now or never time for Serena. She needs to break Kerber soon, but the errors just keep coming. Two more errors,and Kerber races to 40-15. Another baseline error from Serena,and Kerber leads 5-2. She is one game away from her maiden Wimbledon title!

Kerber wins first set

Serena serves, and hits her first return wide. She has been erratic so far, and there's another error, this time on the net. What's happening? 30-0. Finally a point for the American as she crushes a forehand past a stranded Kerber.30-15. Kerber hits her return long now, and it's 30-all. Set point for Kerber as Serena mistimes her return. And guess what, Kerber wins this baseline exchange with Serena hitting the net. She takes the first set 6-3.

Kerber breaks Serena, leads 4-3

Serena serves, but Kerber takes first two points. She moves to break point after Serena double faults. Serena saves the first break point with a smash that Kerber messed up. She then rips a slingshot serve to save another break. 40-30. Serena hits long, and Kerber has broken!

Kerber makes it 3-3

Serena has now won three games on the trot,but here's Kerber with first points of this game. Another baseline exchange, and an electric forehand return makes it 30-0 for the German. What a shot there from Kerber. A double-handed forehand that would have made Serena proud! That's 40-0. Serena responds with a backhand winner to make it 40-15, but hits the next backhand way past the baseline to hands over this game to Kerber. 

Serena leads 3-2

Serena serves, and promptly jumps to 30-0 with a forehand winner and an ace. She hits her backhand long now, and its 30-15. Here comes another sledgehammer of a forehand from Serena. Wow, she does pack lot of power in her shots. 40-15. Serena follows it up with a 125mph ace to take this game. 

Kerber leads 1-0

Serena serves to get the final underway. Starts with a trademark deep serve to Kerber's left and follows it with a booming forehand to her right. 15-0. She rushes to 30-0 after Kerber hits long, but overhits the next shot to make it 30-15. Another error from Serena, as she crunches her low backhand into the net. 30-30. Here comes another deep serve from Serena, and she hits the net on return! 40-30. A long baseline rally that goes Kerber's way. She has broken Serena in the first game.

All set for ladies' final

Right then, the ladies have taken the Centre Court. It promises to be a fast, hard-hitting match as both players enjoy their baseline winners. Stay tuned!

Kerber keen to avenge 2016 loss

Angelique Kerber though is no pushover. The two-time Slam champion is in her second Wimbledon final, and would be looking to avenge her 2016 loss in Wimbledon final. Her attacking, baseline game may test Serena, who leads an overwhelming 6-2 in head-to-head against the German.

History beckons for Serena

Serena is gunning for her 24th major title. She has already won more majors than any other woman in the Open Era. Only Margaret Court has won more (she won 11 in the Open Era), and Serena will tie with the Australian if she wins today. She is in her 10th Wimbledon final,gunning for her eighth title at SW19.

Coming up: Ladies' Singles Final

Next up is the ladies' singles final where America's Serena Williams plays Germany's Angelique Kerber. It's a repeat of 2016 final,and Kerber, who has put a forgettable 2017 behind her,would look to reverse the result from that final. Serena, well she is on a different plane altogether as an athlete. Stay tuned for this blockbuster.

What a game!

So Novak Djokovic's dream return continues. His game came back in the quarter-final against Kei Nishikori, and he was simply outstanding over the two days in the semi-final. Rafael Nadal too would take a lot of heart from his performance. This was his best grass court performance in a while, and it took every ounce of Djokovic's skills to upstage him in a brutal, bruising five-setter that lasted five hours and 14 minutes.

Novak Djokovic will play Kevin Anderson in the Wimbledon 2018 final on Sunday.

Djokovic beats Nadal in five sets

Nadal serves,and his chipped forehand goes wide to hand early lead to Djokovic. Another baseline rally that soon transforms into a drop-shot exchange that Djokovic wins. He is 30-0. It's match point Djokovic. But spare a thought for Nadal. He slipped on the run but somehow manages to fire a return Too bad it finds the net. And Djokovic's done it! His return is too powerful for Nadal who hits it wide.

Novak Djokovic has broken and beaten Rafael Nadal to reach his fifth Wimbledon final and first major final since 2016. 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11-9), 3-6, 10-8 is the final scoreline.

Djokovic leads 8-7

Another excellent game, this. Some lovely returns there, with bot players using the depth of the court pretty well. Nadal gets to break point, but Djokovic saves two break points to force a deuce. What a return there from Nadal! He was made to run both sides, and out of nowhere comes a whipping forehand to Djokovic's left. Advantage Nadal. Another baseline rally, and Nadal rushes in but Djoker's return beats him. Deuce. Boy, is he pumped up or what!

Djokovic moves to advantage but Nadal forces the third deuce of the game. Now Djokovic rips a backhand winner to move to advantage, but Nadal forces a deuce with an absolute blinder of a forehand. He barely had any space there, but Nadal is just so good with his lines. Another baseline rally, and Djokovic gets to advantage with Rafa's return going long. Nadal forces deuce number five with a wicked return, but soon hits his whipping forehand long to hand back the advantage. Gripping stuff, this. And finally, it's game Djokovic as Nadal's return goes beyond baseline. This is another classic, folks!

Djokovic one game away

Nadal on break point. This is not the time for errors, but Djokovic has just committed two of them. It's 40-15, and Djokovic hits an ace to save first break point. And he saves again! This was to Nadal's backhand side, and the Spaniard hits it into teh net. Deue. Advantage Nadal, as Djokovic rushes to the net. Rafa is good enough to reach for the return, but it goes just wide. And Djokovic takes the game with a double-handed backhand. He is back in lead after saving two break points. What a match, this. Djokovic leads 5-4.

Nadal wrests back initiative

Nadal's serve. Will Djokovic step up the pressure in this crucial game? Nadal concedes the first point, but makes amends with a brutal forehand. The Spaniard hits the net now. Can Djokovic break him? Not yet! Nadal makes it 30-all, and then 40-30 after drawing Djokovic wide. Another baseline rally, but now Nadal hits his forehand long. Deuce. Nadal misses his return again...that was an empty court there! Djokovic on break point. And Nadal saves it as Djoker hits the net. Second deuce. Wow, there's some drama going on at the Centre Court. Excellent returns from these two giants, and Nadal eventually takes that point. Deuce, and Nadal breaks the deadlock with a forehand down the line. It's 4-4 in the fifth set.

Nadal wins fourth set 6-3

Nadal takes the fourth set. Amazing tenacity from the Spaniard. He has tested and triumphed Djokovic on baseline and at the net, and despite losing 3 consecutive games, has never stopped believing. He saves two break points and sends down a brute of an ace to take this set in style. Here comes the fifth set.

Nadal breaks

Djokovic serves. He starts with a double fault to concede the first point, but redeems himself with a brutal serve that Nadal hits into the crowd. 15-all. There comes another powerful baseline exchange that ends with Djokovic hitting the net. Nadal leads 30-15. A poor second serve from Djokovic and Nadal's return puts him on break point. Djokovic's serve wrests back a point but Nadal breaks Djokovic after another punishing rally, Djokovic is not happy. He hits himself with the racquet. Ouch! Nadal leads 5-3.

Nadal leads 4-3 in fourth set

Superb service game there from Nadal. He is not hesitating from going for winners, and despite conceding last three games, is testing Djokovic on both side. Djokovic makes it 40-30 but this has been Nadal's game so far. And just like that, after a rally featuring some delectable sliced backhands, Nadal ends the game with another ferocious return. He is back in lead.

Djokovic makes it 3-3

Djokovic starts with a rasping ace, his 15th of the match. Another deep serve that keeps Nadal on the baseline before Djokovic plays a drop shot. It's 30-0. He gets to 40-0 as his groundstrokes are proving too much for Nadal now. The Serb hits a return long. 40-15, but that's all Nadal will get here. Djokovic has come back in style. 

Djokovic breaks

Nadal serves, and Djokovic shows his prowess with some brilliant passing shots to make it 30-15. He gets to break point as Nadal's forehand goes wide. And Djokovic breaks! His deep return his too good for Nadal, who is forced into hitting a return wide. It's 3-2 in the fourth set.

Nadal breaks

Djokovic serves, and conceded the first point with a wide return. He did well to reach it in the first place though. It's 30-0 now as a powerful Nadal return forces an error on the net. There comes the ace from the Serbian. It's 30-15. Brilliant return there from Nadal. He rushes in, and absolutely clobbers his return. 40-15 to him, and there's the game! Nadal leads 2-0.

Nadal takes first game on resumption

All set. Nadal to serve. They start with a typical baseline rally before Rafa hits his backhand long. 15-0. He draws level with a scintillating double-handed forehand. Djokovic was nowhere near that ball. Now Djokovic errs to hand over lead to Nadal. Another baseline rally where Nadal tests the Serbian on both flanks. Djoker comes forward and Nadal belts a backhand. Just wide. It's 30-30. Another rally, and now Nadal's whipped forehand makes it 40-30. Djokovic forces a deuce with a backhand and another groundstroke slugfest ensues. It ends with Nadal's backhand finding the net, and it's Djokovic on break point. Nadal rips a brutal serve to force another deuce. Another rally, and Djokovic gives in with a wide inside-out forehand. Advantage Nadal. Djokovic's forehand forces third deuce but another long return hands back the advantage to Nadal. wow, what a first game we are having. Another deuce, fourth of the game as Nadal's flat forehand hits the net. It's advantage Djokovic as Nadal errs again. Second break point, and Nadal saves it by pushing Djokovic back and drawing a lob, and dealing with it without any fuss. Deuce. Djokovic hits his forehand into the net, and it's advantage Nadal again. Phew! This is just the first game, guys. Another crosscourt exchange before Djokovic forces another deuce with his backhand. Nadal's turn to rip his backhand now. Advantage to him. And it's game Nadal. He saves two break points.

Game time!

Right then, we are all set for the resumption of Nadal-Djokovic semi-final. Djokovic leads 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.