Angelique Kerber reveals her US Open victory was inspired by good-luck message from Steffi Graf

Angelique Kerber has revealed how a good-luck message from Steffi Graf inspired her to US Open glory. 

Kerber beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday to edge a nail-biting final and seal her second grand slam title this year. 

The success caps a superb 12 months for Kerber, who clinched her first major triumph at the Australian Open in January, reached the Wimbledon final this summer and will become world No 1 on Monday. 

She also becomes the first German US Open champion since Graf in 1996. Kerber and Graf have become friends in recent years and they spent some time practising together in Las Vegas at the end of last season. 

The 28-year-old has returned the favour in New York as her victory preserves two of Graf's long-lasting records. 

If Serena Williams had been crowned champion, the American would have overtaken Graf's Open-era best 22 grand slam titles as well as her unbeaten 186 consecutive weeks at No 1. 

Instead, Williams and Graf remain tied on both. Kerber has kept in close touch with Graf and says she received a text from her before her latest success. 

"I used to watch a lot of her matches and I remember that all the matches were very fast. This is what I remember,' Kerber said. 

"I heard from her yesterday (Friday) or like two days ago. She was wishing me luck for the final. 

"Right now I don't know if she has messaged me because my phone is somewhere, so I don't know how many messages I have now. 

"But she was always my idol and I told her that so many times. She's a great champion as well. 

"For me it's really important to go on my own way and to have her in Germany with all the things she did for tennis, it's just amazing."