Australian Open 2017: Serena Williams beats Venus Williams to set Grand Slam record

Serena Williams beat sister Venus in straight sets
to win her seventh Australian Open and an Open-
era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title.
Serena, 35, won 6-4 6-4 to pass Steffi Graf in the
all-time list of major winners since the Grand
Slams accepted professional players in 1968.
The American regains the number one ranking
from German Angelique Kerber.
Australia's Margaret Court, with 24, is the only
player still ahead of Serena in terms of Grand Slam
singles titles.
Is Serena the greatest? Pick your favourite
'I just want to win' - Serena on Grand Slam
ambitions
"Congratulations Serena on number 23," said
Venus, who at 36 is the oldest Australian Open
finalist in the Open era.
"I have been right there with you, some of them I
lost right there against you. It's been an awesome
win.

"I'm enormously proud of you, you mean the world
to me. I, God willing, would love to come back.
Thank you for all the love."
Serena paid tribute to her sister, who was playing
her first major final for eight years, saying:
"There's no way I would be at 23 without her.
There's no way I'd be at one without her. She's
my inspiration.
"She's the only reason I'm standing here today.
She's the only reason the Williams sisters exist.
Thank you for inspiring me. Every time you won
this week, I felt like I got a win too."
Favourite Serena too strong for Venus
Serena went into the match as a strong favourite,
but the tension was apparent as early as the third
game when she smashed a racquet in frustration,
receiving a code violation.
She had broken serve in the first and third games
only to hand the advantage straight back each
time, three double faults inexplicably littering a
desperate game for 2-2.
All-time Grand Slam singles titles leaders
24 (1960-1973) -
Margaret Court (Aus)
19 (1923-1938) -
Helen Wills Moody (US)
23 (1999-present) -
Serena Williams (US)
18 (1974-1986) - Chris
Evert (US)
22 (1987-1999) -
Steffi Graf (Ger)
18 (1978-1990) -
Martina Navratilova
(US)
It was clear the six-time champion was struggling
to settle, with 13 unforced errors in the opening
five games, while elder sister Venus kept her
under pressure with some deep hitting.
The decisive move of the set came with a superb
drop volley followed by a thumping forehand
winner from Serena to break for 4-3, and this time
she managed to consolidate on serve.
In contrast to the opening stages, the following
nine games went with serve - Venus recovering
superbly from 0-40 early in the second set - but it
was Serena who was creating the chances.
She finally capitalised on her sixth break point of
the set with a brilliant return to lead 4-3 and
followed it up with her best service game of the
match for 5-3.
The crowd on Rod Laver Arena had been backing
Venus from the beginning as she tried to win a
first major title for eight years, and all the more so
as defeat loomed and she appeared to struggle
physically.
There was a huge cheer when she held serve to
force her sister to serve out the match, but Serena
recovered from 15-30 to earn match point and fell
back on the court in celebration as her sister sent
the ball floating wide.
'I enjoy seeing Williams on the trophy'
Saturday's final was the 28th instalment of the
sisters' on-court rivarly, which began at the
Australian Open back in 1998, with Serena now
17-11 ahead and 7-2 up in Grand Slam finals.
Venus, who turned professional in 1994 and has
won five Wimbledon and two US Open titles,
insisted she was not too disappointed after
reaching her first major final since 2009.
"No, because I guess I've been here before, "she
said. "I really enjoy seeing the name 'Williams' on
the trophy. This is a beautiful thing."
Venus v Serena in Grand Slam finals
2001: US Open - Venus
won 6-2 6-4
2003: Wimbledon -
Serena won 4-6 6-4
6-2
2002: French Open -
Serena won 7-5 6-3
2008: Wimbledon -
Venus won 7-5 6-4
2002: Wimbledon -
Serena won 7-6 6-3
2009: Wimbledon -
Serena won 7-6 6-2
2002: US Open -
Serena won 6-4 6-3
2017: Australian Open
- Serena won 6-4 6-4
2003: Australian Open -
Serena won 7-6 3-6
6-4