Serena Williams, who is currently chasing Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam titles, lost two Wimbledon and two U.S. Open finals after Australian Open 2017.
Serena Williams of the US with her daughter Alexis Olympia after her win against Jessica Pegula of the US during their women's singles final match during the Auckland Classic tennis tournament in Auckland on January 12, 2020. (MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP)
Serena Williams finally broke her trophy drought by defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Auckland Classic on Sunday. It was Williams’ first title since Australian Open 2017.
With the victory, the 38-year-old claimed her 73rd Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title after losing five finals in the last three years following her 23rd Grand Slam victory in Melbourne in 2017.
Williams, who is currently chasing Margaret Court’s record 24 Grand Slam titles, lost two Wimbledon Open and two U.S. Open finals after she defeated her elder sister Venus Williams in the 2017 Australian Open final.
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“It feels good, it has been a long time. I played an incredible opponent in Jessica and honestly, it was a great match,” Reuters quoted Williams as saying after her victory against Pegula.
“I was definitely improving as the week went on and I needed to because I had some tough matches. I played every day and I’m playing still, I’ve got another match.
“I feel fortunate and blessed to be out here and to be healthy and to play. I have been playing for so long and been through so much and I’m happy to be doing something I love,” she added.
The former women’s world number one can also win the doubles title in Auckland having made it to the final with Caroline Wozniacki. They will be up against American duo of Asia Muhammad and Taylor Townsend on Sunday.
Despite making it to the semifinals, Williams was struggling to find her usual game in the Auckland Open. But her 6-1, 6-1 thrashing of promising teenager Amanda Aniimova in the semi before another straight-set victory in the final seem to have taken her in the right space ahead of the Australian Open, to be played from January 20.
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