HISTORY MADE AND hugs exchanged at the Australian Open, Serena and Venus Williams took a moment to remind the watching world that there couldn’t be one without the other.
The ninth Grand Slam singles final between the First Sisters of tennis ended in a straight-sets win for Serena as she overtook Steffi Graf as the most successful champion of the Open Era.
“That’s my little sister, guys,” a proud Venus, 36, said as she collected her runner-up trophy in front of a packed crowd at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
“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.”
It was a seventh Australian Open title for Serena, and also a seventh Grand Slam final win against her older sister. Back in a Slam final for the first time since the pair met at Wimbledon 2009, an eighth singles crown proved to be out of reach for Venus in a 6-4 6-4 defeat.
“I would really like to take this moment to congratulate Venus. She is an amazing person,” said Serena.
There is no way I would be at 23 without her. There is no way I would be at one without her. There’s no way I would have anything without her.
“She is my inspiration, she is the only reason I am standing here today and the only reason that the Williams sisters exist.
“Thank you Venus for inspiring me to be the best player that I can be and inspiring me to work hard. Every time you won this week, I felt like I’ve gotta win too. Thank you.
“She’s made an incredible comeback and I definitely think she’ll be standing here next year.
“I don’t like the word comeback. She’s never left. She’s been such a great champion.”
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