MELBOURNE, Australia — The previous hour had been a blur for Germany’s Angelique Kerber, who was digesting a lot on Thursday: the first Grand Slam semifinal victory of her 14-year professional career, a postmatch meal and sound bites rationed to the media. She had one more treat to savor, which she waited to open until after fulfilling her media obligations.
Reaching into her jacket pocket, Kerber pulled out a smartphone and called up new text messages. One was sent from Las Vegas. “Congratulations from me,” she read. “I’m really happy for you.”
The message was from Steffi Graf, who will cast a long shadow over the Australian Open women’s final on Saturday.