In what was seen as a fairy tale Grand Slam finals, Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus Williams to clinch her seventh Australian Open title. She now holds 23 Grand Slam titles - an Open era record.
Venus, who was looking to win her eighth Grand Slam title, fell in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
Live updates: (* denotes next server)
That's it from us today. Do make sure to come back to The Hindu for what will be another dream final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal tomorrow!
Here's how the WTA rankings will look like on Monday:
1. Serena Williams
2. Angelique Kerber
3. Karolina Pliskova
4. Simona Halep
5. Dominika Cibulkova
6. Agnieszka Radwanska
7. Garbine Muguruza
8. Svetlana Kuznetsova
9. Madison Keys
10. Johanna Konta
(11. Venus Williams!)
"She is only reason the Williams sisters exist," Serena says. "There is no way I would be anything without her.
"We'll see her again next year... I don't like the word 'comeback.' She never left."
Word.
"Your win is my win, you know that," Venus says in a moving speech at the ceremony.
"Thank you for all the love. I would definitely like to come back."
We love you too, Venus. And yes, please come back!
What does this mean?
This is Serena Williams seventh Australian Open title.
This is also her 23rd Grand Slam singles title. She now holds the most number of major titles in the Open era, going past Steffi Graf who has 22. Let that sink in.
She is also back to being World No. 1.
This is her 10th Grand Slam since turning 30. Like we said earlier, 30 is the new 20!
Game, set and Championship: Serena Williams
She may not have gotten off to a great start, but here she is. Australian Open Champion 2017.
Phenomenal hold from Venus. She was pushed to a corner, but she crawled her way back, hitting an ace to get to 40-15. Venus' coach is on his feet. So is the crowd at Rod Laver.
But let's not forget. Serena Williams will now serve for the Championship.
Serena holds. Venus will now serve to stay in the match.
Serena breaks
A return winner from Serena seals this game. She breaks in the second set 4-3.
We're at three games all. Serena holds, but doesn't look entirely too comfortable. A classic Venus volley in the first point made it seem like she had it, but she throws away the break after a few lazy shots. Serena holds firm.
Another comfortable hold from Venus. Have we seen the end of breaks?
Venus almost breaks as Serena double faults, pushing it to 40-30. But she sends it into the net and loses the chance.
Venus digging might deep as she saves three break points to hold this set. The crowd roars in appreciation as she crushes Serena with a massive forehand to bring the set to duece. Phew! Serena doesn't seem to share the crowd's enthusiasm though.
What’s in it for Serena?
Serena is looking to win her 23 Grand Slam title that will finally take her one up over Steffi Graf for the highest total in the Open era.
Serena upping her game right there with another 40-0, racing along with aces.
A good start from Venus in the second set, after losing the first one despite putting on a more-than-good performance. She holds the game, with an impressive forehand winner.
Serena Williams takes the first set
Will the real Serena Williams stand up? And there she is! She quickly races to 40-0, and closes it with a thunderous ace. Serena finds her ace game just when she needed to and finishes the first set in 41 minutes. Off we go into the second.
Will Venus push this to a third set decider? Serena Williams is 20-0 in Grand Slam singles finals after winning the first set.
Venus serving to stay in the match and she comes up with a determined hold, even when Serena races past her to 30-0. Serena will now serve for the first set.
And now she's one step closer to winning the first set. A much-needed ace from Serena, a firm hold - Venus will now serve to stay in the match. Can she hold on?
Serena is moving much better now and the results are obvious - she breaks. A backhand winner, helped in plenty by a double fault from Venus, does the trick
Serena holds on to level at 3-3. Alexis Ohanian is nodding in encouragement and so are we.
We have a hold! We have a hold! Venus definitely looks like the calmer one in the match so far, with a firm hold. Serena still seems to struggle to find her footing.
And off we go on another break. Is anyone keeping track of the number of double faults from Serena yet? Four games, four breaks.
Serena breaks again. The crowd gasps, not just after one fierce rally after another.. but also when Serena slams her racquet down after being unable to pick a crosscourt winner from Venus. She's clearly showing signs of pressure this early in a match, but channels it into a monstrous forehand winner. Venus can't win it, the ball lands on the net and another break it is.
And now it's time for Venus to break. Two games, two breaks. What contest do we have here? Serena not being helped there by a double fault and a backhand error.
And Serena breaks in the first game! It took an incredible cross-court forehand winner to break Venus in the opening game, one which saw her serve a mighty ace at 179kmph/hour. The little sister means business.
Venus Williams wins the toss and will serve.
At Grand Slams
Venus and Serena have not played against each other since the quarterfinals of the 2015 U.S Open, where Serena won 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
Today’s match will be the ninth time they’re playing each other in the finals, but the first one since 2009.
The real deal
A simple head-to-head comparison of the Williams sisters shows that Serena has been the more successful sibling, leading 16-11.
What’s in it for Venus?
This is Venus’s first major singles final since she lost to Serena in straight sets at the 2009 Wimbledon final. She will be looking to win her eighth Grand Slam title today.
What’s in it for Serena?
Serena is looking to win her 23 Grand Slam title that will finally take her one up over Steffi Graf for the highest total in the Open era.
1998 - Williams vs Williams
It all began here in Melbourne for the Williams sisters. The first time the Williams sisters met in a Grand Slam was during the Australian Open in 1998. Sixteen-year-old Serena was a newcomer and Venus had made inroads into the tennis scene, ranked no. 16.
Venus won the game in straight sets 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, advancing to the third round.
Here's a picture from The Hindu 's Sportstar from 1998.
Welcome to 2008. We’re in the midst of a financial crisis – the markets are down, we’re losing jobs. Oh, and you may or may not have heard of this guy… he’s running for President of the United States. Barack Obama, yes.
Still don’t believe us? But we have a Grand Slam tournament with a finals line up like this – Serena Williams vs Venus Williams; Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal.
But, no. Humans haven’t yet figured out time travelling (unless you’re Hermione Granger, of course). We’re in 2017. The financial crisis is behind us (or so they say), and Donald Trump is President.
Follow this page as we bring you updates from what is being touted as one of best tournament finals in recent history. The last time we had an all Williams and a ‘Fedal’ finals was at the Wimbledon Championships in 2008. Remember the results? Venus and Nadal were crowned champions.
What do you think will be our winning combination this year?
Federer- Serena
Federer – Venus
Nadal – Serena
Nadal – Venus
