Serena Williams overtakes Federer for most Slam match wins

Serena recorded her 308th Grand Slam win, passing Roger Federer's all-time record in the Open Era with a 6-2,6-3 win

Serena Williams, US Open
Serena Williams returns a shot to Yaroslava Shvedova, of Kazakhstan, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament. Photo: AP | PTI
AP | PTI New York
Last Updated : Sep 06 2016 | 1:57 PM IST
Serena Williams now owns more victories in Grand Slam matches than anyone else in tennis' Open era, surpassing Roger Federer with her 308th.

So, Serena, who'll wind up with more?

"I don't know. We'll see," Williams said during her on-court interview after reaching the U.S. Open quarterfinals by beating Yaroslava Shvedova 6-2, 6-3 yesterday.

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"Hopefully we'll both keep going," she added. "I know I plan on it. I know he does. So we'll see."

Federer turned 35 on Aug 8. Williams turns 35 on Sept 26.

Williams' very first win at a Grand Slam tournament came way back when she was 16, a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-1 victory over Irina Spirlea in the first round of the Australian Open on Jan. 19, 1998. Williams' first loss at a major came in her next match, which happened to come against older sister Venus.

Nearly two decades later, through plenty of highs and lows, from championships to health scares, the younger Williams is still at it -- and still winning.

"It's a huge number," she said about getting to 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."

Although her 36-year-old sibling is active, many of Williams' contemporaries have come and gone, including Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, who are both younger, and Martina Hingis, who is only a year older.

"I definitely never thought I would be playing still," Williams said. "Now I don't really see when I'm going to stop, because I'm just enjoying these moments out here, getting to break records that I didn't even know existed or I didn't even know was possible."

Over her career, she is 308-42 at the majors, for a winning percentage of .880. Here's the victory breakdown: 88 at the U.S. Open, 86 at Wimbledon, 74 at the Australian Open, 60 at the French Open.

Federer is 307-51 (.858) and can't increase his total until next season, because he is sitting out the U.S. Open and the rest of 2016 because of problems with his surgically repaired right knee. Indeed, he recently tweeted pictures of himself hiking in the Swiss countryside .

Williams, meanwhile, still has work to do at Flushing Meadows as she pursues another mark: most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era, which began in 1968. She pulled even with Steffi Graf by collecting her 22nd trophy at Wimbledon in July.
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First Published: Sep 06 2016 | 10:42 AM IST

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