Serena Williams surpassed Roger Federer's record for the most number of match wins in Grand Slams, taking her tally to 308 after she beat Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova 6-2, 6-3 in her round of 16 clash at the US Open on Monday. She is now the most successful tennis player in Grand Slams.
Williams, now 34, was 16 when she won her first Grand Slam match against Irina Spirela 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1 at the Australian Open in 1998. Eighteen years later, she has become the owner of 22 major titles and is eyeing her 23rd at Flushing Meadows this week, which will also be a record. Williams faces Simona Halep next for a place in the semi-finals.
“It’s a huge number,” Williams said, after notching up win No. 308. “I think it’s very significant, actually. I think it’s something that just really talks about the length of my career, in particular. I’ve been playing for a really long time. But also, given that consistency up there – that’s something that I’m really proud of.”
Williams is 308-42 in majors, with her victory breakdown being 88 at the US Open, 86 at Wimbledon, 74 at the Australian Open, and 60 at Roland Garros. She looks set to hold the record for a while, considering Federer called an end to his season following Wimbledon because of a knee injury and will be back only in 2017.
