The all-Williams final – the first at the Australian Open since Serena won the first edition of the family rivalry here in 2003 – went to the younger sibling 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday night.
With her record seventh Australian title, the 35-year-old Williams moved ahead of Steffi Graf for the most major titles in the Open era. Margaret Court has the all-time record and was also in the crowd for the final at Rod Laver Arena.
Court won 24 majors, but collected 13 of those before the Open era which began in 1968 after the sport became professional.
The victory also ensured Serena Williams will regain the top ranking, which she lost in September after 186 straight weeks when Angelique Kerber won the U. S. Open.
Adding to a long list of incredible achievements, tennis superstar Serena Williams now owns more victories in Grand Slam matches that any other t…
It was Serena\u2019s seventh win in nine all-Williams Grand Slam finals, and the first since Wimbledon in 2009. It was 36-year-old, No. 13-seeded Venus Williams\u2019 first trip back to a major final in 7 1\/2 years.
Serena sat on the court, holding both arms up to celebrate, before Venus walked over to her sister\u2019s side of the net for a hug.
\u201cThis was a tough one,\u201d Serena Williams said. \u201cI really would like to take this moment to congratulate Venus, she\u2019s an amazing person – she\u2019s my inspiration.
\u201cThere\u2019s no way I would be at 23 without her – there\u2019s no way I would be at one without her. Thank you Venus for inspiring me to be the best player I can be and inspiring me to work hard.\u201d
Williams has won 15 majors since last losing to Venus in a Grand Slam final, at Wimbledon in 2008. That was the seventh and last major title that the older of the Williams sisters won.
Venus hadn\u2019t made the second week of a major for a few years as she came to terms with an energy-sapping illness since being diagnosed with Sjogren\u2019s syndrome in 2011, and made her return to the semifinals at Wimbledon last year.
\u201cShe\u2019s made an amazing comeback … I don\u2019t like the word comeback,\u201d Serena Williams said. \u201cShe\u2019s never left. She\u2019s been such a great champion.\u201d
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The match didn\u2019t live up to its classic billing, with nerves and tension causing uncharacteristic mistakes and unforced errors and four consecutive service breaks before Venus finally held for a 3-2 lead in the first set. That included a game when Serena had game point but served back-to-back double-faults and three in all to give up the break.
There were six service breaks in all. Both players were relatively subdued, except for Serena\u2019s racket smashing spike on the court in the third game that earned her a code violation.
After the fourth game, however, Serena Williams didn\u2019t face another break point in the 1-hour, 22-minute match.
\u201cSerena Williams, that\u2019s my little sister, guys. Congratulations Serena on No. 23,\u201d Venus said. \u201cI have been right there with you. Some of them I have lost right there against you. It\u2019s been an awesome thing, your win has always been my win, you know that. All the times I couldn\u2019t be there, wouldn\u2019t be there, didn\u2019t get there, you were there.\u201d
Venus stayed in the match with 21 winners, and won the longest rally of the match, but couldn\u2019t seem to keep up with her sister as the match progressed.
In terms of total years, it was the oldest Grand Slam women\u2019s final in the Open era with the Williams sisters combining for 71 years, 11 months. Roger Federer will be aiming to increase his all-time men\u2019s record to 18 when he takes on 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal on Sunday night, completing the singles finals lineup of all 30-somethings.
The Bryan twins missed out on a doubles record late Saturday, losing the final 7-5, 7-5 to Henri Kontinen of Finland and John Peers of Australia.
The third-seeded Bob and Mike Bryan were trying to win their 17th Grand Slam title, which would have tied them with John Newcombe for the most titles all-time.
Serena got a little bit superstitious Down Under, and hadn\u2019t wanted to talk about the No. 23. \u201cNow we can talk about it,\u201d she said.
Now there\u2019s a limited-edition racket – 23 to be released, with proceeds going to The Serena Williams Fund – and a pair of custom-made shoes – sent by former NBA star Michael Jordan. It had Jordan\u2019s usual jersey number No. 23 stamped on the heel, helping to provide some synchronicity for the numbers involved.<\/p>\n

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Sentiment rank: 4<\/div>\n

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