Venus Williams vs Serena Williams Australian Open Final Live Score Match Updates

A great day for the Williams family.... Congrats to Richard and Oracene for raising such exceptional tennis players and women...
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) January 28, 2017

Australian Open 2017: Serena Williams beats Venus Williams to win 23rd Grand Slam title

"Don't say comeback for Venus," says Serena. "She never left."

And fans will be waiting for that final, whenever and wherever it happens.

"I've really missed being up here," says Serena. And there are smiles all around.

"Your win is my win," says Venus. And Serena replies. "She's the only reason I'm at 23. For inspiring me. For being the best player I could be. For inspiring me. Thank you, Venus."

It's about family in the end, and Venus, as she collects her runners-up trophy, says, "That's my little sister, you guys."

Serena Williams beats Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 to win her 23rd Grand Slam title.

GAME, SET, MATCH Serena Williams.

Venus returns in that great rally. And a backhand goes just outside the net.

And another unforced error. 30-40. Match point Serena Williams. Championship point Serena Williams.

Unforced error for V. Williams and now we're at 30-30.

That was one of the best tennis rallies I've seen in a long, long time. Venus sends Serena running to every corner of the court. That rally had to end somewhere and it ends as Serena shanks a forehand. There's stress and it's palpable. From both ends. 15-30.

Serena responds with her own backhand. 15-15.

Serena's at the centre of the baseline and Venus sends a stunner of a backhand across the court. 0-15.

Venus holds to 15 in that game. Serena now has to serve it out for the match. Reckon Venus is going to play spoiler again?

That was an epic rally. An epic rally. It stays down the line - and Venus starts taking it across the court. Again, Serena tries that doublehanded backhand and sends it wide - almost a carbon copy of the previous shot.

Game V. Williams!

What an ace! 40-15 to Venus. She'll force Serena to serve this one out.

Serena tries that double handed backhand across the court. Wide. 30-15.

Venus is under the most pressure - serving to stay in the match. And still her face is the picture of calm.

WOAH boy. Venus on edge. And that pressure shows in a SMASH WINNER! 15-15

Venus' forehand right into the net there and Serena holds. 5-3.

Ace #10 for Serena right down the T and the younger sister's got her game under control. 30-0

That may be the crucial break of serve - and this could be over before we know it.

Venus' forehand goes into the net and Serena's backhand at the tramlines wins her the break! I think this one might be the one.

She sends a smashing forehand across the court and is up another break point now!

A lot of buildup to that point, but Serena shanks her return into the net. Deuce.

Venus' forehand spun wide out there, and Serena's focused. Is this going to be the turning point?

A rally of the cross-court forehands! Something had to give there, and it looks like Serena's low forehands are helping and how. 30-40 and it's break point Serena!

But wait, there's more. Venus decides she wants to send an ace down the T. I take back my words about pressure now... ;)

Serena absolutely thwacks that backhand down the line. The placement, the force, all of it perfect. 30-15.

Venus Williams is feeling the heat and the pressure here and she's not liking it. 0-15 to Serena.

Serena's serves are keeping low - and it's working well for her. Venus hits back, trying to get more force on that one, and it spins out wide. Game Serena.

And another one. Game point Serena. 40-15.

Serena at a 30-15 lead with a Venus backhand shank.

15-15!

15-0 Serena. And the next point sees Venus move closer to the net. Serena absolutely racing to combat that one here, and she tries a backhand slice - but it doesn't have enough on it! Top of the net.

Serena's firmly at the baseline right now and sends a HUGE serve in.

That game was almost under a minute! Serena sends a couple of backhands into all corners and Venus builds onto that with an ace at the best time! She's just held her service game and we've got a contest on our hands.

Venus Williams runs to the net and her forehand goes RIGHT into the net. She's incredibly disappointed, because that would've otherwise been a great defensive volley.

It's given Serena her service game though.

Venus responds to the second serve with a forehand shank into the net and she's disappointed. 30-15 to Serena.

Serena pummels that one down the T. 160kph that one, and that's her 9th ace of the match. 15-15.

Down the line and easy does it. Facing three break points, Venus Williams HOLDS serve.

Both players scream. Venus sends a cross-court forehand in. Serena is agitated and puts ALL her power into that one. Unfortunately that's gone long and wide and it's ad Venus!!

Venus Williams has won the game 40% of the time when down a break point - and she's pulled out a couple of great forehands here to go 30-40!

But we've rushed to break point for Serena, who leads 40-0.

Serena runs away with a down the line forehand.That was beyond smooth. Little else Venus can do but watch, but she tries to defend there.

Couple of unnecessary unforced errors there. Serena's keeping her cool and looked good on serve in this set. 40-30

Venus Williams opens serve in the second and she's raced to 30-15 with an ace and a couple of ridiculously good backhands.

Second set underway!

And another ace to finish. Serena Williams wins the first set, 6-4.

Venus Williams vs Serena Williams Australian Open Final Live Score Match Updates

Serena Williams* 6-4, 6-4 Venus Williams [* indicates serve]