[1] Serena Williams (USA) def. [2] Maria Sharapova (RUS) 6-3 7-6 (5)

Serena outclassed her rival Maria on Saturday’s final as expected to create history in women’s game. World no.1 was on offence right at the start of the match breaking the Russian in a 6-minute long game to take early lead in the first set. Serena was unwell and coughing between the points. Although, she managed to hold serve and maintained the lead. At 3-2 30-30 on her serve, rain interrupted the play forcing the officials to close the roof on Rod Laver Arena. Both players left the court for a short break while the roof was being closed. Serena won 6 points in a row after the break to take 5-2 lead playing indoors. Maria found her way back and broke Serena’s serve in the next game to make it 5-3. The comeback was not to last too long as Serena broke immediately to clinch the first set 6-3 and put herself a set away from the glory.

Maria played solid tennis to start the second set to gain break opportunities on her opponent’s serve but failed to convert as Serena got herself out of trouble with great serving. Both players kept fighting aggressively in the following games to stay on serve, especially Maria produced variety of shots to outsmart Serena at the net. Russian saved a championship point on her serve at 4-5 with a decent second serve followed by a ferocious forehand down the line which Serena herself applauded. She fought off the game to even the set at 5-5 and eventually a tiebreak was needed to decide the winner.

Maria got the mini break to begin the tiebreak only to surrender it on next point. It was 4-2 in top seed’s favor at the changeover. Russian faced another championship point at 4-6 in tiebreak on her serve and managed to save it. Finally, the third championship point was on Serena’s serve who was serving brutally in the second set having already served 14 aces. She served another bomber and dropped her racket to celebrate the victory only to be stopped by chair umpire calling it a Let (ball clipping the net and landing in). Serena smiled but hasn’t fainted as she served another ace to finish the game and jumped on court like a little kid in the joy of a 19th grandslam victory.

Quotes from the players

It’s an honor to now be mentioned in the same sentence with Martina and Chrissie – Serena Williams on surpassing their record of 18 majors

I love playing the best & at the moment she is (the best) – Maria Sharapova about playing Serena

I have to congratulate Maria…she really pushed me tonight… She played a great match… not only for you guys but for tennis – Serena Williams

-Harish Narahari [Harish Narahari is a Sports Analyst for the Tennis Galaxy at Sportz Cosmos He tweets here]