SW19: Serena Williams sealed the title with an ace

In sealing her sixth title at Melbourne Park, Williams surpassed Martina Navratilova, the woman who passed her the trophy, and Chris Evert in Grand Slam title wins, while drawing level with fellow American Helen Wills Moody, third in the all-time list.

At 33, the oldest Australian Open winner in the professional era, Williams left few in doubt that the pursuit of Steffi Graf’s 22 titles and Margaret Court’s 24 will continue. “Gosh, where do I start? I have to thank God for this,” Williams gushed.  “I was down and out, and he helped me today, and I just said prayers and it just — not to win but to be strong and to be healthy and in the end I was able to come through. I also have to congratulate Maria, who played a wonderful, wonderful match tonight. She really, really pushed me tonight, and she played so well. Gave us a great final for not only for you guys but for women’s tennis.”

Fittingly, she sealed the title with an ace, her 18th, on the third match point, and after shaking hands with her opponent, bounded around the court like a woman possessed, squealing in delight.

Sharapova sat quietly in her chair, nursing the pain of a 16th straight defeat by Williams and a third loss in Grand Slam finals to the American champion.

“I’ve got to congratulate Serena on creating history and on playing some of her best tennis. It’s really an honour playing against her,” Sharapova, who lost the 2007 final to Williams and the title-decider at the 2013 French Open, said.

Djokovic, Murray bidding for firsts
For two men who have accomplished so much in their closely intertwined careers, the Australian Open final between friends Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on Sunday could achieve a number of firsts. Should Djokovic beat Murray he will become the first man in the Open era to win five titles in Melbourne and be one away from Roy Emerson’s record of six, won before the game went professional in 1968. Victory will also allow him to reclaim his mantle as the king of Melbourne Park, having reached the final in four of the past five years. At the Australian Open, the gulf between Djokovic and Murray is wide — the No. 1-ranked Djokovic has won the title each of the four times he has reached the championship match, while Murray has lost all three of his finals at Melbourne Park.  Overall, Djokovic has a 15-8 edge in career matches. Order has been restored in the Big Four with Murray reaching the final. He could go to No. 3, supplanting Nadal, if he wins. He was No. 6 when the tournament began. Djokovic will remain at No.1 and Federer at No. 2.

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