Serena defeats sister Venus to win 7th Australian Open title

The American sisters Serena and Venus Williams battled it out on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday for the Women’s Singles title of the 2017 Australian Open, and the younger, Serena, edged Venus 6-4 6-4 to become a seven-time champion at Melbourne.

With the victory, Serena moves back to world No.1, deposing Angelique Kerber, who beat her in last year’s Melbourne Park decider.

Serena defeated her sister in straight sets to seal a record 23rd major singles title, which breaks a tie with German Steffi Graf for the most in the Open Era.

Here’s an updated shortlist of Most Open Era Grand Slam title winners:

23 – Serena Williams
22 – Steffi Graf
18 – Chris Evert
18 –Martina Navratilova
11 – Margaret Court (won 13 pre-Open Era)

Read Also: Australian Open: Serena sets up an all-Williams Grand Slam final

“I really would like to take this moment to congratulate Venus. She’s an amazing person,” champion Serena Williams said after the match.

“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.

“She deserves an incredible round of applause, she’s made an amazing comeback. I definitely think she’ll be standing here next year. I don’t like the world comeback – she never left,” she stated.

However, Venus who failed to win in her first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2009, didn’t fail to congratulate her sister in spite of the defeat.

“Serena Williams – that’s my little sister! Congrats on 23, you mean the world to me!”

She has now lost eight of her past nine meetings with Serena, and will rise to No.11 in the rankings.

 

 
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