Serena Williams defeated Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-1 on Thursday night in the semifinals at the US Open. The win was Williams’ 101st career victory at the Open, tying her with the great Chrissie Evert.
Williams advanced to her 10th US Open final and 33rd Grand Slam final overall, where she has won an Open Era record 23 titles.
Serena has been winning majors since she was a teenager. Her first came at the US Open in 1999 when she was a 17-year-old. The almost 38-year-old now mother, is amazed at what she’s been able to accomplish. Following her semifinal victory she talked about tying and passing Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles, saying:
I definitely would still be playing if I had already passed it. I’ve had so many chances to pass it and to have a lot more, but it’s cool because I’m playing in an era with so many — five eras with so many amazing players (smiling). If you look at the span of the career, the players I’ve played, it’s amazing that I was able to get this many.
On Saturday, the “Greatest of All Time” will be vying for more history. A record 7th US Open title and 24th Grand Slam. She is the greatest player and champion there has ever been in women’s tennis.
Serena has arguably been the most famous female athlete in the world for much of that 20 year span as well. Over that time she has picked up a few famous friends.
Flip the page to see Twitter reactions to Serena’s win and who might be in the house on Saturday to possibly witness history.
