Serena Williams rewrote history Saturday to surpass Steffi Graf and capture a record 23rd Grand Slam title as well as the world number one ranking by beating her sister Venus in the Australian Open final.

The dominant American swept past her greatest rival 6-4, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena for her seventh Melbourne Park crown to finally clinch the record for Open-era major titles, nearly 18 years after winning her first.

Serena Williams of the US celebrates with the championship trophy during the awards ceremony after her victory against Venus Williams of the US in the women’s singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2017. / AFP PHOTO

The 35-year-old, who equalled Graf’s mark of 22 at Wimbledon last year, now stands just one behind the all-time 24 won by Margaret Court, who was in the president’s box to witness Williams’ feat.

Her astonishing achievement also means she again becomes the world’s top-ranked player, ending the brief stay of Angelique Kerber who knocked Williams off the top after three-and-half years in September last year.

Fittingly, her sister and closest confidante Venus was on the other side of the net to share the moment, another chapter written in their long rivalry.

It was Venus — still a teenager with beads in her hair — who knocked Serena out in round two on her Grand Slam debut in Melbourne 19 years ago, and they have since played nine major finals together, living each other’s highs and lows.

At 36 and seeded 13, Venus had turned back the clock to make her first Grand Slam title match since Wimbledon in 2009, but adding to her seven major successes was not to be.

Showing the single-mindedness that has propelled her to greatness, a focused Serena, seeded two, overcame a scratchy and nervous start in which all four opening games were breaks and when she smashed a racquet in frustration.
But she soon settled to get a decisive break to go 4-3 in front with an unstoppable backhand, and served out the set with an ace.

Serena was fired up and after the first two games of the second set went to serve, she worked three break points in the third only for her sister to negotiate her way out of trouble with some big forehand winners.

The tense battle went with serve to 3-3 before Serena cranked up the pressure to break with a scintillating crosscourt backhand and take a 4-3 lead.

With history beckoning, she wasn’t about to throw it away and she served out the match, falling to the floor in celebration before a long embrace with Venus to share the biggest moment of her career.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/serena-beats-venus-win-record-23rd-slam-title/

Congratulations

Sure knew she would beat Venus....

Wow!

nice

ok

The Trophy is still in the family

Shit, I actually want Venus to win

This girls no dey old

Watin CONSINE me.


anyways
how do I Look

CONGRATS BAE

Double posts on fp

The title still stays in the family.

Great family.

cool

yemmybx:
Congratulations

Amazing

jamoscofield:
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Viccur:
J

voicelez:
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nuted:
G

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It's a Win Win for d williams...congrats serena

Oya you have won
It is tym to go and bang drake

The Money still the enter same House

Her last 12 GS have come in the past 6 years. Clearly shows there is no competition left in Women's tennis anymore.

Up up u go

Normal....


Not new

Has been a constant

Congratulations to her

Serena the G.O.A.T

Trophy is within the same family...

Exceptional talent.

Ahn-ahn, what joy do you derive in beating your elder sister every time Serena, ehn?

Can't you help her to beat you?

The other time you beat her, she sobbed like a baby... your parents even joined in consoling her.

Now, how do you want her to react to this one again? Please, if na play, stop am! She's your elder sister for Christ sake!!!

If you ever meet like this again, kindly allow her to beat you. Thank you in advance.

.