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What is the biggest upset in tennis history and how did it happen?

Violetta Fransinelli

As a tennis fanatic and social media user, I could not resist the opportunity to answer the question, "What is the biggest upset in tennis history and how did it happen?" Believe it or not, this is a topic that still has fans talking today. And trust me, after I tell you the story, you'll understand why.

Let's take a trip back in time to the year 2016. It was the Australian Open, and the world was watching as Serena Williams, the legendary champion, was chasing history. She was just two wins away from achieving something no tennis player, male or female, had done in over twenty years: the elusive "Calendar Slam." In other words, winning all four Grand Slam tournaments in a single calendar year.

But there was one thing standing between Serena and tennis immortality: her opponent, a young German player named Angelique Kerber. Now, don't get me wrong, Kerber was not a nobody. She was ranked seventh in the world at the time and had reached the semifinals of the Australian Open the previous year. But no one, and I mean no one, thought she stood a chance against Serena. After all, Serena had won 21 Grand Slam singles titles, while Kerber hadn't even won one.

The match started out as expected, with Serena dominating and taking the first set 6-4. But then something strange happened. Kerber, who had seemed nervous and hesitant in the first set, suddenly found her rhythm. She started returning Serena's serves with ease and hitting winners from both sides of the court. Before anyone knew it, she had won the second set 6-3.

It was a shock, but surely Serena would regroup and come back in the third set, right? Wrong. Kerber continued to play the match of her life, while Serena seemed to be struggling with nerves and fatigue. Kerber won the third set 6-4, and with it, the Australian Open title.

It was a moment that will forever be etched in tennis history. Serena, who had been so close to achieving something no one had done in over two decades, was left with nothing. As for Kerber, she was suddenly the talk of the tennis world. Her victory was considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history, and for good reason. She had beaten the unbeatable, and she had done it with style and grace.

Now, five years later, I still get chills thinking about that match. It just goes to show you that in tennis, and in life, anything is possible. So, to all the underdogs out there, take heart. Who knows, maybe the next biggest upset in tennis history will be yours to make.