Serena Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the 2017 Australian Open — surpassing Steffi Graf (22) for the most majors in the Open Era.
The Victory
January 28, 2017: Serena defeated sister Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 in final. Seventh Australian Open title. 23rd Grand Slam singles championship.
She was eight weeks pregnant (announced in April via Snapchat). Played and won while carrying daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
The Chase for 24
Serena needed one more Slam to tie Margaret Court’s all-time record (24, though 13 pre-Open Era). She reached four more finals:
- Wimbledon 2018 (lost to Kerber)
- US Open 2018 (lost to Osaka, meltdown vs. umpire)
- Wimbledon 2019 (lost to Halep)
- US Open 2019 (lost to Andreescu)
Never won #24. Retired September 2022 at age 40. Record stands at 23.
Legacy
Most Grand Slams in Open Era. 73 career titles. 319 weeks at #1. Four Olympic golds. Dominated tennis for two decades (1999-2017).
Changed the game: power, athleticism, Black excellence. Faced racism, sexism, body shaming. Became icon beyond sport.
23 will always be Serena’s number. The Queen retired on her throne.
Source: WTA Tennis