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Melbourne - An ecstatic Serena Williams said winning a
record 23rd Grand Slam at the tournament where it all began, and against her
sister Venus, was "the stuff that legends are made of".
The 35-year-old had to dig deep to see off Venus and finally
surpass Steffi Graf's Open era mark, overcoming a nervy and error-strewn start
when she smashed a racquet before reeling in a tense 6-4, 6-4 victory at the
Australian Open.
In doing so, she also won a seventh Melbourne title and
returned to world number one.
"It's a great feeling. No better place to do it than
Melbourne," Serena said.
"My first Grand Slam started here, and getting to 23
here, but playing Venus, it's stuff that legends are made of. I couldn't have
written a better story.
"I just feel like it was the right moment. Everything
kind of happened. It hasn't quite set in yet, but it's really good."
The American made her Grand Slam debut in Melbourne way back
in 1998 - knocked out in round two by Venus - and won the first of her major
titles at the US Open a year later.
Newly engaged, she deliberately avoided any talk of Graf's
record during the tournament, a strategy she said helped her relax.
"I've been chasing it for a really long time. It feels
like, really long time," she said of the record, happy to talk now it has
been secured.
"When it got on my radar, I knew I had an opportunity
to get there, and I'm here. I'm here."
With the record now in the bag, she insisted there were no new goals, despite being just one shy of the all-time Grand Slam titles achieved by Margaret Court, who watched her match courtside on Saturday.
"I never had a number. That's the beauty of it,"
she said.
"When I started this journey, I just wanted to win a
Grand Slam. Then I just wanted to win. Every time I step on the court, I want
to win."
Her career, though, has involved plenty of impressive
numbers. The Williams sisters have won an incredible 30 Grand Slams between
them.
Serena said she couldn't have done achieved her career
without her older sister beside her.
"We are just so proud. We feel so fortunate to have this opportunity to be the ones that can do it," she said.
"Venus and I work so hard. Still to this day we work
side-by-side each other at practice. We motivate each other.
"Every time she won her match, I felt obligated to win. I've got to win, too. The motivation she gives me, it's really second to nothing. It's amazing."
