VIDEO: Serena Williams Wins Record 23rd Grand Slam Title After Defeating Her Sister Venus 6-4, 6-4

Williams became the oldest Slam winner in the Open era at 35 years, 124 days

ABOVE VIDEO:  Serena Williams is alone at the top when it comes to Grand Slam achievement in the Open era.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (ESPN) – Serena Williams is alone at the top when it comes to Grand Slam achievement in the Open era.

By defeating her sister Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 in the Australian Open final Saturday, Serena Williams won her 23rd major title, breaking the record she had shared with Steffi Graf.

Serena Williams has experienced some high-anxiety moments in major matches, and she did again on Saturday. In the early going, she smashed her racket in frustration after falling down on the baseline, and she served three tentative double-faults in a span of four points.

However, she soon settled down — and made history. Serena closed the match on her first championship point, charging the net with a forehand that Venus could not successfully return.

It’s Serena Williams’ seventh Australian Open title and second in the past three tournaments in Melbourne. She also has seven titles at Wimbledon, six at the US Open and three at the French Open.

She remains one Grand Slam championship behind the all-time leader, Margaret Court, who has 24 titles in the Open and amateur eras. Court, an Australian who won 13 majors before the dawn of the Open era in 1968, was among those applauding the Williams sisters at Rod Laver Arena.

Saturday’s victory also means Williams will regain the world No. 1 ranking from Angelique Kerber, who was eliminated in the fourth round in Melbourne. Next week will be Williams’ 310th at the top of tennis.

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