Serena Records 308th Grand Slam Win
NEW YORK, NY, USA – World No.1 Serena Williams is back into the quarterfinals at the US Open, advancing in a dominant 6-2, 6-3 performance against Yaroslava Shvedova. With the victory Williams recorded her 308th Grand Slam win, passing Roger Federer’s all-time record and making her the winningest player – male or female – in the Open Era.
“It’s a huge number,” Williams said of the history-making achievement. “I think it’s very significant actually. I think it’s something that just really talks about the length of my career.”
“I’ve been playing for a really long time, but also, you know, given that consistency up there. That’s something that I’m really proud of.”
Williams was in control of the match from the start, and set the tone early on when she blasted an ace in the very first point. Her powerful, well-placed serves were her biggest weapon; she struck 11 aces in total, as well as an unreturnable 126 mph cracker, the fastest serve of the tournament so far. She didn’t face a break point all match long and won 93 percent of points behind her first serves.
She’ll face No.5 seed Simona Halep for a spot in the US Open semifinals. It’s the first seeded player Williams has faced in the tournament, but the World No.1 knows that figure doesn’t mean much.
“I just think with everyone I play, they play a step up and above their ranking,” Williams explained. “I think that’s the beauty, one of the reasons I’m able to hang. Everyone I’m playing is playing like they’re No. 1.
“To me it doesn’t really matter who I play because I have to expect they’re going to play the match of their life. That’s how I go into these matches now.”
History made. Again.#Serena becomes overall Open Era leader in major match wins, def. Shvedova, 6-2, 6-3. #usopen pic.twitter.com/A8HOAZt4Vz
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2016