Serena enjoying the ‘best form of my life’

Williams celebrates 23rd major title – and seventh in Melbourne – with win over sister Venus

Australian Open champion Serena Williams believes she is playing the best tennis of her entire career.

Williams overcame her sister Venus 6-4 6-4 on Saturday to claim her seventh Melbourne crown and secure an Openera record 23rd grand slam title.

It means she moves above Steffi Graf in the all-time list and now stands just one short of Margaret Court’s unmatched 24.

The 35-year-old shows no sign of slowing. She has won 10 major titles since turning 30 and has made eight out of the last grand slam 10 finals.

Williams believes she is in the form of her life.

“I was thinking yesterday on the practice court, ‘gosh I’m playing better than I have ever before I think’,” Williams said.

“I’m moving better, I’ve always been a fast mover but I stopped moving a bit in the middle of my career because I was like, I don’t have to move so much. But I was like, ‘man I’m hitting really well’. It feels good to be playing this well at the moment.”

By her own high standards, 2016 represented a disappointing season for Williams.

The American only added a Wimbledon title to her tally and also surrendered the world No 1 spot to Angelique Kerber after a shock US Open defeat to Karolina Pliskova.

Williams has struggled at times with the weight of expectation, crumbling at the 2015 US Open when a calendar grand slam was in sight and then stumbling again there in September when on the brink of breaking Graf’s record.

Surpassing Graf’s 22 major triumphs adds statistical weight to the now almost indisputable argument that Williams is the greatest female player of all time.

She could pass Court’s mark at Wimbledon this summer, although 13 of the Australian’s 24 successes came before the Open era, when grand slams were still not fully professional.

“Graf’s record is more important because with all the respect for Margaret Court, it’s another era,” Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou said.

“The draws were like 16 players, they were not professionals. Of course the record is there and we definitely want to beat it but there is a professional era and the record was Steffi Graf.”

Venus has now lost 17 times in 28 career meetings with Serena and been defeated by her sister in seven out of nine major finals. The seven-time grand slam champion has also still never lifted the title in Melbourne.

“It’s not weird because I guess I’ve been here before,” Venus said. “I really enjoy seeing the name ‘Williams’ on the trophy. This is a beautiful thing.

“Twenty-three is a great number. I know she would like to have a little more. Who wouldn’t? It was a great moment.

“I’m very happy that she’s been able to get to number 23 because there was 22 before that she also earned, and she earned it.”

I really enjoy seeing the name ‘Williams’ on the trophy. This is a beautiful thing. VENUS WILLIAMS

Picture: Getty. Serena Williams is all smiles after picking up her 23rd major title.