Melbourne: Serena Williams, coughing frequently and still clearly affected by a recent cold, won the Australian Open final against Maria Sharapova on Saturday. After winning her sixth Australian Open title, Serena added nineteenth Grand Slam singles titles to her trophy cabinet.
Here is how the action unfolded.
Rain began falling at Rod Laver Arena and the roof was closed with Williams serving at 30-30 and up a service break at 3-2. Play was stopped for 13 minutes while the court was dried by dozens of ball kids with towels.
Williams, chasing her 19th Grand Slam singles title, had an ace on her first serve back and won six points in a row, including another break of Sharapova's serve to go up 5-2. She broke again at 5-3 to take the set.
Sharapova, who had lost 15 in a row to Williams, double-faulted on break point in the opening game.
The second set witnessed a more balanced battle between the two, with Maria holding her serve.
Serena Williams had her chance to close the match in the 10th game, but Maria did a fine job to hold her nerve and serve to levl the scores to 5-5.
The second set then went into the tiebreak where Serena did not allow Maria Sharapova to get better of her.
While the Russian managed to save one match point, it was not too long before Serena grabbed the second set and first Grand Slam of the year.
Visible happy after winning her 19th career Grand Slam in singles, Serena jumped her way to celebration.
#Serena Williams wins! #ausopen http://t.co/4UlmoBmte2
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2015Jumping for joy! #Serena #ausopen http://t.co/ZRFAbxThfC
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2015
