In the first week of 2018 Wimbledon, all the talk about the women's draw was of upsets and shocks. Seeds went tumbling out, stars departed and no one seemed to know whether rankings, form or experience could be trusted as indicators of who might end up battling for the title.

But in the end, despite all 10 of the top-ranked players crashing out before the quarterfinals, it was two of the game's undisputed star names who contested the title match.

Williams' successes in the game make her a global superstar that even those who do not follow tennis - but Kerber's quietly understated manner in both victory and defeat may mean that she sometimes does not quite achieve the recognition that she deserves.

That, however, may well suit the German, for she seems to perform at her best when considered more of a dark horse than a comfortable favourite. In her three Grand Slam events as No. 1 seed, she never reached a quarter-final. But here, as No. 11 seed and just one of a number of names touted as potential champions, she flourished.

"I think it's a completely new feeling because 2016 everything starts where I won my first Grand Slam," she analysed later. "Here, especially after 2017 when I think nobody was expecting me so strong back, to coming back how I came, to winning my third Grand Slam, winning Wimbledon, which was always my dream. I think two weeks ago nobody expected I can go so far."

The match itself ended up being a fairly straightforward affair, with the German racing into an early lead and never really looking back. She won four of the seven break point chances offered to her, while giving up just one break to the American. And while Kerber made few mistakes, she was able to force Williams into 21 errors to go with a further 24 unforced errors that meant Williams could never properly establish herself in the contest.

The fact that she was there at all though speaks volumes of both Williams' physical athleticism and mental fortitude. For any other player, reaching a Grand Slam final just 10 months after giving birth would be huge news for Serena, it feels fairly normal.

"It was a great opportunity for me. You know, I didn't know a couple of months ago where I was, where I would be, how I would do, how I would be able to come back. It was such a long way to see light at the end of the road," the 23-time Grand Slam champion explained later.

So I think these two weeks have really showed me that, okay, I can compete. Obviously I can compete for the long run in a Grand Slam. I can, you know, come out and be a contender to win Grand Slams.

Her defeat today was her first at a major since falling to Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals at the US Open in 2016, but it would be no surprise at all to see Williams battling for the title in New York too.

But for now, it is Kerber who is on top of the tennis world.

"I think Wimbledon is something special," she beamed. "Winning here, it's forever. Nobody can take the title away from me now."

While Kerber's victory was a comfortable one, both men's and women's doubles finals went the distance and were tense throughout. In the women's final, the all-Czech pairing of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, the third seeds, overcame the No. 12 seeds Nicole Melichar and Kveta Peschke 6-4 4-6 6-0 on No. 1 Court.

And in the men's final, Mike Bryan won his 17th Grand Slam men's doubles crown - and his first alongside someone other than his brother Bob, who is currently injured - when he and Jack Sock edged a tight five-setter against Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus. The pair completed 6-3 6-7(7) 6-3 5-7 7-5 under the Centre Court roof to cap a gripping day of action.