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Serena Williams won her seventh Wimbledon title Saturday, tying Steffi Graf with a record 22 Grand Slams.
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The 34-year-old Williams defeated German player Angelique Kerber in two sets, 7-5 and 6-3 in the tournament final at the All England Club in London. Williams lost to Kerber in this year[s year’s Australian Open.
The number one-ranked women's tennis player in the world, Williams appeared to be in top form, and it took her just 1 hour and 21 minutes to finish off the younger Kerber. After winning, Williams raised her arms and flashed two fingers on each hand,as a sign tht she was cognizant of her place in history.
"Yeah, it's been incredibly difficult not to think about it. I had a couple of tries this year. But it makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked for it," said Williams.
Williams celebrated her title and thanked her family and friends for their support. (Reuters)
"This court definitely feels like home," said Williams.
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Kerber defeated Serena’s sister Venus in a semifinal match Thursday, depriving the sisters of the opportunity to square off head-to-head for a fifth time in the finals at Wimbledon. The sisters, on the other hand did win the doubles title.
"At the end, I was trying everything, but she deserved it today. She really played an unbelievable match," said Kerber.
Music stars Beyonce and husband Jay Z attended the final and sat next to Serena’s family in her guest box. Even British Royalty saluted the tennis player, with Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton appearing in a video posted by Williams on her Snapchat account.
Singer Beyonce with her husband musician Jay Z with Williams' family and friends. (Reuters)
Williams is tied with Graf for the most major championships in the Open era, which began in 1968. Australian player Margaret Court holds the all-time record with 24 titles, and Martina Navratilova holds the record for Wimbledon titles in the Open era, with nine. Williams and Graf are tied for second with seven Wimbledon championships.
In an interview with the BBC, U.S. former tennis player Billie Jean King exhorted Williams to prove she is the greatest women's player of all-time.
“I always talk about how the head, the heart and the guts have to be together to make greatness and that's what Serena has,” said King. “If she can keep her motivation and stay healthy maybe she'll be our greatest ever.
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