World No 1 closes in on Grand Slam record

The MC at Melbourne Park

THERE have been some Grand Slam finals that have left women’s tennis wide open to criticism and the familiar questions about the legitimacy of equal prize money. Then there are magnificent and captivating contests that do the sport nothing but credit. Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova conspired to produce an exceptional Australian Open final to sit right at the top of the second pile.

In years to come, a glance at the record books will suggest that Williams’ victory was routine. Women were still receiving less prize money than men in most of the majors, and platforms such as Facebook and Twitter that have helped make Sharapova even more famous weren’t invented when she last managed to beat the most powerful woman ever to hit a tennis ball. However, this was anything but a routine encounter, and Williams maintained that it was a special match.

The master of ceremonies at the trophy presentation at Melbourne Park is not an individual who understates things. However, he got it absolutely correct when he said at the end of the final: ‘‘Serena is a phenomenon, an icon.’’

The 33-year-old American won the 19th Grand Slam singles title of her career, 6-3 7-6, which sounds distinctly routine. The fact she beat Sharapova for the 16th time in succession, in a run stretching back to 2004, hints that the Russian was resigned to her fate before a ball had been struck. However, this contest was full of drama and intrigue, and it was right that it should have changed the order of things in Grand Slam history.

For matters of tennis and otherwise, Williams and Sharapova have hardly been convivial over the years. To call them enemies would be overstating the case and perhaps rivals is an inaccurate description given the one-sided past record. Yet after such an enticing match, with Williams firing 18 aces and Sharapova never once flinching, there was mutual respect at the end of it all.

‘‘Maria played so well today, she really showed why she is one of the best players in the world,’’ said Williams as she pocketed a winner’s cheque for $NZ3.3m.

‘‘I love playing Maria. I love her style and her game matches up well to mine. You want to play the best. The match got really tough for me because she was playing so much better.’’

Sharapova was equally generous with her praise.

‘‘I love playing against the best, and at the moment that is Serena,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m proud to be part of an era where she’s the tops.’’

Williams was running a temperature and was still feeling unwell with the chest infection that has resulted in her being put on a course of antibiotics and seemed to have provoked a coughing fit each time her views were sought by questioners, but you would hardly have known it.

Sharapova was desperate to end her miserable losing streak against the world No 1 and the health bulletins on Williams’ condition must have given her hope that Saturday would be the day when she would turn the tables on her American opponent.

Initially it appeared as though the match would be another brief and one-sided affair. After all, some of them have been, most notably the 2012 Olympic final on the grass at Wimbledon, when Sharapova was allowed only one game by her opponent. When Williams registered an immediate break of serve, the grimace on Sharapova’s face was one of apparent resignation. And we all feared the worst for her.

Yet as Sharapova tried to get the score back on level terms, it became clear that the influence of Sven Groeneveld, her coach, had brought some touch and finesse to her game. And when she finally managed to break the Williams serve, a bombardment from the other end of the court meant she was broken back immediately.

‘‘It’s always tough getting to the a final stage of an event where it’s down to two players and you end up being the one that’s going home with the smaller trophy,’’ the Russian said.

Sharapova attempted to view her unsuccessful run in a pragmatic way. ‘‘Yes, I haven’t won against her many times but if I’m getting to the stage of competing against someone like Serena, then I’m doing something well,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m setting up a chance to try to beat her and it just hasn’t happened yet.’’

The victory moved Williams one title clear of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Now only Steffi Graf, with 22 Grand Slam singles titles, and Margaret Court, with 24, stand ahead of Williams, for whom this was a sixth Australian Open victory.

If her determination and commitment to the sport continues, and that hasn’t always been the case with Williams, Graf’s record could fall next year. By that time, Williams may have achieved something else that will ensure her place in the pantheon. If she wins the French Open or Wimbledon this year she will become the oldest woman to win a singles Grand Slam, beating Navratilova’s record of 33 years and 263 days. Go to stuff.co.nz for a full report on last night’s men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.