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Angelique Kerber was sweaty. She had just beaten Johanna Konta in the semifinals of the Australian Open to book a trip to her first major final. Her on-court interview had finished about 30 seconds earlier. Adrenaline pumping, she popped out into a quiet hallway at Rod Laver Arena.I had just finished my assignment for ESPN and was wandering back to the ESPN compound that hot Thursday Melbourne afternoon. I had just watched Kerber, 28 years old and playing in her 33rd Grand Slam tournament, pull off a crisp, clean match that included just 11 unforced errors to 14 winners.Kerber had won seven career titles at that point and more than $9 million. She had been ranked in the top 10 for years. She had been to the US Open semifinals in 2011 and the Wimbledon semifinals in 2012. But this -- this 2016 Australian Open moment -- was by far the biggest of her career.Well congratulations! I said.But she wanted more.I cant find anyone from my team, she said (and I swear I could see the excitement and thrill dripping off of her). Ive just gotten to my first major final, and I have nobody to hug.You can hug me if you want,?I said.And she did.Two days later, Kerber went on to beat Serena Williams -- the same Serena Williams who four months earlier was two wins away from a calendar Grand Slam and was holding all four major titles -- in the final to win her first major title.And Kerbers year just kept getting better from there. In addition to winning the Aussie, she was runner-up (to Serena) at Wimbledon, won the title in her home country at Stuttgart, took silver (to Monica Puig) at the Olympics, took out Petra Kvitova, Roberta Vinci, Caroline Wozniacki and Karolina Pliskova to win the US Open. She started 2016 ranked No. 10 in the world and finished ranked No. 1.For so many years in womens tennis, we had been looking for that person, who, like Serena, could follow up a great result at a Grand Slam. That player who could make a run to the semis or the final and then back it up. Nobody had been able to do it. But Kerber was able to break that pattern. She backed it up beautifully. From start to finish -- from the Australian Open to the WTA Finals in Singapore, where she lost in the final -- she was the best player in 2016.I think a lot of her success can be traced to the offseason -- exactly this time last year. She stepped up her physical strength, her conditioning, her footwork. She became more professional in all the little details.But she also worked really hard on the emotional side. That was always the big question mark around Kerber over the years: Could she remain emotionally competent week in, week out, match in, match out. A lot of the time I sit courtside during matches, and I would see her get negative ... the way she would look up at her coach, Torben Beltz, the way she would get testy when the tide of a match would start to turn. In 2016, she had her best attitude -- her most consistent, professional attitude.She was just really grounded, really professional, really consistent, really good.Ive been thinking over the past few days about what we can expect from Kerber in 2017. And I dont see her going away. She passed so many tests in 2016, and she is such a veteran. She turns 29 next month, and shes been a top-10 player for years. I think we can look forward to more from Kerber. Another major? I dont see why not. Another No. 1 at the end of the year? I wouldnt put that past her, either.More on Angelique Kerber? Kerber and the power of positivity?Story ?? The spectacular renaissance of Angelique Kerber?Story ?? Kerber tops Serena to win Australian Open?Story ?The IMPACT25 is espnWs annual list of the 25 athletes and influencers who have made the greatest difference for women in sports. Explore the 2016 list and more content at espnW.com/IMPACT25. Charlotte Hornets Store . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Custom Charlotte Hornets Jerseys . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. https://www.cheaphornets.com/ . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Charlotte Hornets Gear . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Cheap Hornets Jerseys .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels has been named the American League MVP.The announcement was made on MLB Network after voting from members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts finished second, and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was third.Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be the best player in everything I did, didnt matter what sport, Trout said in an ESPN interview after being named MVP. But obviously, you work hard just to be in the conversation.There are a lot of great players across the country, across the world, that youre playing against each and every day. [You] put your mindset to that, just to work hard and be the best.At just 25 years old, Trout now has his second MVP award -- he won his first in 2014. Trout is the sixth player to win two MVPs before the age of 26, according to Elias. Trout also has never finished lower than second in AL MVP voting in his five full years in the majors.A five-time All-Star, Trout was one of the few bright spots for an Angels team that finished 21 games out of first place in the AL West.The Los Angeles center fielder led the majors in runs scored (123), walks (116), on-base percentage (.441) and WAR ((10.dddddddddddd6). He finished second in the AL in OPS (.991) and tied for second in steals (30).Betts was tied with teammate Dustin Pedroia for second in the AL in batting average (.318), ranked second in hits (214), tied for third in doubles (42) and was fourth in RBIs (113). He finished second in the majors in WAR (9.6) behind Trout.Altuve led the AL in both batting average (.338) and hits (216), while he tied for second in steals (30), was third in WAR (7.7), tied for third in doubles (42) and ranked fifth in OPS (.928).Trout received 19 first-place votes and 356 points, while the runner-up Betts received 311 points. Retiring Red Sox slugger David Ortiz got one first-place vote to finish sixth in his final year in the majors.A well-deserved honor for a player that puts his name in the MVP conversation year in and year out, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Trout in a release. Mike is the consummate team player and deserves every accolade he receives on the field just as he should off of it for the person he is.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '