At 37 years of age and with 23 Grand Slams to her name, there is very little Serena Williams hasn’t achieved in tennis. But with her drive and passion, she is still fighting it out on the courts, winning her last Major while pregnant with her daughter and returning to the sport less than a year after giving birth and needing a life-saving surgery.
On Thursday, the American made her second straight final at Wimbledon, to be once again just a match away from equaling Margaret Court’s Grand Slam title record of 24.
But the more remarkable fact is this – this is the 13th consecutive year that Serena Williams has made a Grand Slam final. From 2007 to 2019, the 37-year-old has reached the summit clash at on of the four Majors, including her injury and pregnancy breaks. How is that for longevity?
Last year, she had reached the finals a couple of months after returning from a maternity break, but was unable to cross the line. She had reached the final of the US Open as well, but could not win the 24th Major in a controversial final where she had an altercation with the umpire.
Williams may have missed the chance to equal Australian Court’s record on two occasions since returning after giving birth, but her presence in the final here comes after a rough year with injury and early losses.
She will face Romanian seventh seed Simona Halep in the final after dropping just three games against her 33-year-old semi-final opponent Barbora Strycova in a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Here’s a look at the big numbers from her remarkable Grand Slam record.
Serena Williams at Grand Slam
Year | Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | QF | R32 | FINAL (as of now) | - |
2018 | - | R16 | FINAL | FINAL |
2017 | WINNER | - | - | - |
2016 | FINAL | FINAL | WINNER | SF |
2015 | WINNER | WINNER | WINNER | SF |
2014 | R16 | R64 | R32 | WINNER |
2013 | QF | WINNER | R16 | WINNER |
2012 | R16 | R128 | WINNER | WINNER |
2011 | - | - | R16 | FINAL |
2010 | WINNER | QF | WINNER | - |
2009 | WINNER | QF | WINNER | SF |
2008 | QF | R32 | FINAL | WINNER |
2007 | WINNER | QF | QF | QF |
2006 | R32 | - | - | R16 |
2005 | WINNER | - | R32 | R16 |
2004 | - | QF | FINAL | QF |
2003 | WINNER | SF | WINNER | - |
2002 | - | WINNER | WINNER | WINNER |
2001 | QF | QF | QF | FINAL |
2000 | R16 | - | SF | QF |
1999 | R32 | R32 | - | WINNER |
1998 | R64 | R16 | R32 | R32 |
W-L | 85-11 | 65-13 | 92-11 | 95-12 |
Tennis🎾 - @serenawilliams is the second woman to reach a Grand Slam singles final in 13 successive years in the Open Era, after Chris Evert (14, 1973-1986). #Wimbledon #SW19
— Gracenote Olympic (@GracenoteGold) July 11, 2019
With her victory today, Serena continues her streak - she’s reached at least one GS singles final every year since 2007, injury and pregnancy-related hiatuses included.
— Phillip (@asktheages) July 11, 2019
Serena is Finals bound at #Wimbledon
— ESPN (@espn) July 11, 2019
She has reached at least one major final in 12 consecutive years, the second-longest streak of its kind by a woman in the Open Era. pic.twitter.com/MKbuPqOM8S
Serena Williams and Simona Halep are the only two players on the #WTATour to have reached a major final in each of the past 3 years.
— Matt Zemek (@mzemek) July 11, 2019
Serena: 2017 AO, 2018 SW19 and USO, 2019 SW19
Simona: 2017 RG, 2018 AO and RG, 2019 SW19
They meet for the #Wimbledon title.
Fitting, oui? Oui.
Tennis🎾 - Most women's singles finals at a specific Grand Slam in Open Era
— Gracenote Olympic (@GracenoteGold) July 11, 2019
12 - Martina Navrátilová (Wimbledon)
11 - @serenawilliams (Wimbledon) (+1)
10 - Chris Evert (Wimbledon)#Wimbledon #SW19
Serena Williams ties Navratilova, passes Graf in number of Grand Slam singles finals.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 11, 2019
Evert, 34
Navratilova and S. Williams, 32
Graf, 31
Federer, Men's singles leader, is trying to reach his 31st this week.
Second year in a row Serena reaches Wimbledon final having faced one Top 30 opponent. Second year in a row that opponent is Goerges.
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) July 11, 2019
✅ 2002
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) July 11, 2019
✅ 2003
✅ 2004
✅ 2008
✅ 2009
✅ 2010
✅ 2012
✅ 2015
✅ 2016
✅ 2018
✅ 2019
The 11th seed Serena Williams reaches her 11th #Wimbledon final!
Incredible 🙌 pic.twitter.com/HRFrOmEgg6
One Serena victory away from the No. 11 seed winning #Wimbledon two years in a row.#SPORTS #H11TORY
— Matt Zemek (@mzemek) July 11, 2019
Tennis🎾 - Most women's Grand Slam singles finals in the Open Era
— Gracenote Olympic (@GracenoteGold) July 11, 2019
34 - Chris Evert
32 - @serenawilliams (+1)
32 - Martina Navrátilová
31 - Steffi Graf#Wimbledon #SW19