Serena Williams, the World woman tennis champion has won Australia Open final on Saturday January 28, 2017. With the win, the American Serena has a record of 23 grand slam titles, beating German Steffi Graf's, the most in the Open Era of professional tennis. She defeated sister Venus Williams 6-4 6-4.
After the win, Serena Williams said: “I’ve been chasing it for a really long time. When it got on my radar, I knew I had an opportunity to get there, and I’m here. It’s a great feeling. No better place to do it than Melbourne."
Congratulating her sister, Venus Williams told the public: “That’s my little sister, guys,” before speaking to her sister Serena: “Congratulations, Serena, on No. 23. I have been there right with you. Some of them I lost right there against you. I guess that’s weird, but it’s been an awesome thing. Your win has always been my win. I think you know that. And all the time I couldn’t be there, wouldn’t be there, didn’t get there, you were there. I’m enormously proud of you. You mean the world to me."
Serena Williams lost in the Australian Open and French Open finals last year and has been chasing the record since. Kerber beat Williams in Melbourne in January 2016 and eventually took the No. 1 spot. Serana Williams, who turned 35, is now back to No. 1 rank.
She attributed a major part of her success to sister Venus:
“There’s no way I would be at 23 without her; there’s no way I would be at 1 without her. There’s no way I would have anything without her. She’s my inspiration. She’s the only reason I’m standing here today, and the only reason that the Williams sisters exist. So thank you, Venus, for inspiring me to be the best player I could be and inspiring me to work hard. Every time you won this week, I felt like I’ve got to win, too."
Since last year's Wimbledon tournament, Tennis fans had hoped to see a Williams vs. Williams final. When 34-year-old Serena's older sister, 36-year-old Venus reached the semi-final, many expected her to make history to reach the final as the oldest woman tennis player since Martina Navratilova. It did not happen, until the Australia Open. And it was great.
Go sisters Serena and Venus!!!
