At this year’s Australian Open, a new, refreshed, and just-as-dominant Serena Williams returned to her full power as she steamrolled through to the finals, the venue of her 2016 loss to surprise winner Angelique Kerber of Germany.
This year, Kerber exited early in the tournament. Williams, who dropped to World No. 2 following a semi-final exit at the US Open, not having dropped even a set, made her way to a final against longtime rival and sister Venus, and won the tournament without having dropped a single set.
That feat in itself should prove her greatness relative to the Open.
But Serena Jameka Williams came into the Australian Open with 22 Grand Slam titles, having equalled German ace Steffi Graf’s Open Era record with a grass-court win at Wimbledon last year.
Now, having overcome that record, Williams is sitting at 23 – and only one Major away from equalling Margaret Court’s all-time record.
Should all this not be enough to definitively declare her as the Greatest of All Time? Her records would say so. They would have said so had she retired
1. Winning a major without dropping a set
It is evident that Serena Williams has been in more than powerful form into the 2017 season. The American, who struggled with form and injuries last year, has this year returned to her form of early 2017. It is of course to be remembered that she did win a major even in 2016, her ‘low’ season, with a drop only to 2nd place.
Having progressed to the finals without dropping a single set, Serena Williams progressed to set up a legendary finals clash against older sister Venus.
Even in that match, Serena Williams took a thumping win – in straight sets. She did not put a foot wrong during the tournament and, for the fourth time in the past 9 years, won a Grand Slam title without dropping a single set.
If that is not definitive proof of just how dominant the American is, then nothing will be.
2. 35 years old and in the form of her life
Serena Williams went pro in 1995, at the age of 15 – meaning she has spent over half her life in the sport. 21 years in the sport and 23 Majors would mean Williams had to have won at least a minimum of one Major a year, and given she won her first in 1999, at the US Open, between one and two majors every year that she has been a professional.
But that does not seem to have dulled her sparkle in the least. From a teen sensation to a 35 year old one, Serena Williams has only gotten better with age. Her shots just as powerful, her serves just as strong as players who were born after she became a full-time tennis player.
Both Australian Open winners – Roger Federer and Serena Williams – are 35 years old, and both runners-up – Venus Williams and Rafael Nadal, are 30 or over (although Nadal just about manages!)
At what is described best as ‘older’, an age when most other players (past or present) have either already retired, or are at the end of their careers and tiring, Serena Williams is not.
Where most other players would be struggling to wins, if they got them at all, Serena Williams has been fighting fit. Not a sign of injury or her body giving way and with signature Williams confidence, the American, who will be 36 this September, has been moving across the court faster than many younger than her, serving more powerfully than anyone on the court, and outplaying every opponent.
When other players have struggled with joint issues after years of play, Williams has enjoyed the consistency that few players in the sport ever have.
3. Unprecedented longevity in the sport
Serena Williams is succeeding at 35, yes, but she has enjoyed success for nearly two decades, since she first burst onto the scene. At only 18, the American won her first Grand Slam title – at the US Open, where she went on to win another five titles.
Williams has won a minimum of three titles on every surface she has played – a feat no player in the Open Era has achieved, barring German ace Steffi Graf, whose 22-Major record Serena beat this year with her win at the Australian Open – her 23rd Grand Slam.
That in itself requires unprecedented consistency month on month, year on year, and Williams has done it all with aplomb!
4. Played all types of rivals and won
Big servers? Serena Williams has defeated them. Tactical players? She’s beaten them too. As swiftly as she can return the serves of a Petra Kvitova or her own older sister, former No.1 Venus Williams, Serena can also outfox the strategic Agnieszka Radwanska, whose sneak attacks have earned her the nickname of ‘Ninja’.
She may have seen upsets, but Serena Williams has always held her own against opponents on clay, hard court, grass, you name it. It does not matter what their specific ‘weapons’ are or where they target the ball – the American ace is always in the fight, even if she does not always win.
5. 23 Majors. That is all.
You might believe this should have been the first, most definitive point in proving Serena Williams is the GOAT. Perhaps it is. Having equalled Steffi Graf’s 22-Major record last year, Serena Williams dominated the hard courts of Melbourne Park for No. 23. Now, she is only one title away from equalling the all-time record set by tennis icon Margaret Court.
With the form she has been in physically and mentally, it would not be unfounded to believe she can not only match that record, but break it. It’s uncertain by what margin, perhaps, but Serena Williams, who has had immense success at Wimbledon, will aim for at least 25.
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