After all the advice that Steffi Graf gave her, Angelique Kerber was able to return a favor to the retired champion on Saturday.<br />Graf's record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era is intact for now after Kerber staged a stunning upset of No. 1-ranked Serena Williams to win her first major at the Australian Open.<br />It means Williams' tally of majors stays at 21 and the list of Grand Slam champions gets an elated and exuberant newcomer.<br />"This is the first big tournament of the year, and I won it, the first Grand Slam.<br />It sounds crazy, but I can say I'm a Grand Slam champion now," said Kerber, who was in a final for the first time in 33 major tournaments.<br />The win will elevate Kerber to a career-high ranking of No. 2.<br />She was seeded seventh in this tournament.
