Serena Williams can’t help but make history. The 35-year-old tennis player bested sister Venus Williams at the Australian Open final Saturday (Jan. 28), landing a historic 23rd Grand Slam title.
Serena is now the only tennis player — male or female — to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era of tennis, which began in 1968.
SHE’S DONE IT! No. 23@serenawilliams is your #AusOpen 2017 women’s singles champion. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LC6fpWi3Ik
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2017
“It’s such a great feeling to have 23,” Serena said after beating Venus 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets. “It really feels great. I’ve been chasing it for a really long time. It feels like, really long time. When it got on my radar, I knew I had an opportunity to get there, and I’m here.”
The latest victory places Serena above Steffi Graf’s 22 Grand Slam wins in the Open Era, and one step closer to beating retired Australian player, Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 titles.