Serena Williams overcame her older sister Venus to claim a 23rd Grand Slam title with a 6-4 6-4 victory in the Australian Open final.
The 35-year-old became the oldest female Grand Slam champion in history and moved clear of Steffi Graf’s 22 Open-era titles, and just one behind Margaret Court’s all-time record with a straight sets win on Rod Laver Arena.
Victory for Serena Williams also reaffirms her status as the world’s No 1 player – she will overtake Angelique Kerber when the rankings are updated on Monday – but more importantly her place in history.
The win was her seventh Australian Open title and she achieved it without dropping a set over the fortnight, and with a ruthless display that ended her sister’s own fairytale run in Melbourne.
“I would like to congratulate Venus,” Serena said after receiving the trophy.
“She’s an amazing person. There’s no way I’d be at 23 without her, no way I’d be at one without her. She’s my inspiration, the only reason I stand here today, the only reason the Williams sisters exist.
“Thank you for inspiring me to be the best player I can be. Every time you won this week, I thought ‘I’ve got to win too’.
“She’s made an amazing comeback. I don’t like the word comeback because she’s never left.”
Venus paid tribute to her younger sister as well as relishing her own moment back in the spotlight, playing in her first Grand Slam final since 2009.
“Serena Williams, that’s my little sister, guys,” Venus told the crowd in her post-match speech.
“Congratulations on number 23, I’ve been right there with you, some of them I lost against you. Your win has always been my win, I think you know that.
“All the times I couldn’t be there or wouldn’t be there, you were there. I’m enormously proud of you, you mean the world to me.”
