Serena Williams Breaks Open Era Record and Recaptures Top Spot With Aus Open Win

Serena Williams defeated her opponent and sister Venus Williams to capture the Australian Open title last night. Though Venus put up a good fight, she was unable to stave off what is starting to feel like destiny for Serena Williams. After the stunning defeat during the last US Open, where the world expected her to finally surpass Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam wins, Serena managed to pull it all together for this competition and make it happen. If she decides to remain in the game long enough to nab two more Grand Slam titles, she will become the number One Grand Slam title winner of both the Open Era as well as before the open era. Australian Margaret Court, who started playing before the Open Era, holds 23 Grand Slam titles.

Serena Williams is truly one of the greatest athletes to have ever played the game. Most tennis players retire around the age of thirty, especially females. Yet Serena has nabbed 10 major titles since turning thirty. She is now also the oldest person to win a Grand Slam title. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand the tremendous amount of discipline, intelligence, and heart that is required to play at the top level in championship level tennis for twenty years. Serena has also had to do it facing the added pressures of being female, being African-American, and having a body type that is athletic and not considered traditionally beautiful. Fortunately through her grace, intelligence and fortitude she continues to overcome those challenges and enlighten the unenlightened public about what true beauty is. She also epitomizes the championship spirit showing grace both during victory and defeat.