Slam with a hard-fought win over bitter rival Maria Sharapova on
Saturday, consolidating her place among the game's legends.
The 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) triumph means the American world number one
overtakes 18-time major champions Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert
to go clear second on the all-time Open-era Grand Slam winners' list,
three behind Steffi Graf.
Australia's Margaret Court, who played many of her match before the
Open-era, has 24 titles. Evert, commentating on ESPN, backed Williams
to eventually overtake Graf's mark "if she stays healthy, if he stays
motivated".
"Standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought
would happen, I went on the courts with just a ball and a racquet and
hope and that's all I had," said Williams, at 33 the oldest women to
win the Melbourne title.
"I'm just so excited to have this title," she added, revealing that
she had been "throwing up" when she went off court during a rain delay
in the first set.
The American has been battling a cold all tournament and was coughing
during the match.
The first Australian final in a decade to feature the tournament's top
two seeds was a one-sided affair in the opening set, although
Sharapova rallied to make a contest of it in the second, saving two
championship points before falling to a third.
The win extends Williams' decade-long run over the Russian to 16
matches, with the second seed hailing her rival's "incredible
achievement".
"I've got to congratulate Serena on creating history and playing some
of her best tennis," she said.
"I haven't beaten her for a really long time but I love every time I
step out on the court with her because she's been the best and as a
tennis player you want to play against the best."
An intensely focused Williams outgunned Sharapova, cannoning down 18
aces, including a 203 kmh (166 mph) thunderbolt and glaring at her
opponent during key moments as Sharapova struggled to stay in the
match.
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