Nataly
Both Serena and Venus displayed nerves in what was their second Australian Open final where they have faced each other across the net, but it was the younger of the siblings who triumphed 6-4, 6-4, ABC reports.
Serena Williams, 35, has defeated her older sister Venus, and also extended her own record as the oldest woman to win a major in the open era.
Serena highlighted how much the Australian Open title meant to her when accepting the winner’s trophy.
“I am trying to stay up here as long as I can,” she said. “I missed it last year.”
Serena also chose to heap praise on Venus, who she beat in the 2003 final at Melbourne Park, describing her older sister as “an amazing person”.
“There is no way I would be at 23 without her,” she said.
“Thank you Venus for inspiring me to be the best player that I could be and inspire me to work hard every time you won this week I felt like I got a win too.” Venus was in a jovial mood when she congratulated Serena on her victory after the match.
“Congratulations Serena on number 23. I have been right there with you, some of them I lost right there against you,” Venus said with a laugh.
The Williams sisters were meeting for the ninth time in a major final – but first since 2009 – and this was Serena’s seventh success in the contests that mattered most.
After breaking Venus’ serve in the opening game of the match, Serena banished any suspicions she might go easy on her sister when she obliterated her racquet after being on the wrong end of a net-cord winner from her greatest friend and rival.
