By Erik Gudris | Monday, September 5, 2016
Serena Williams, earned her 308th career major win, the most by any player in the Open era, by reaching the US Open quarterfinals.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
For Serena Williams, it was yet another day of making history.
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The US Open top seed, with a straight sets fourth round win, earned her 308th career Grand Slam victory.
That is the most by any player, man or woman, in the Open Era. Williams passes Roger Federer who has 307 wins at the majors, followed by Martina Navratilova with 306 wins.
“Oh wow! It’s really exciting,” Williams said to ESPN’s Pam Shriver on the achievement. “This is where it all started so it’s always so magical for me out here. And 308 sounds pretty good.”
When asked who she thought would finish their careers with the most wins, her or Federer, Williams said. “We’ll see. Hopefully we’ll both keep going. I know I plan on it and he does so we’ll see.”
Williams continued her impressive form with yet another solid serving performance against Yaroslava Shvedova. Though Shvedova has tested Williams in four previous meetings, today was all about Williams from start to finish.
Williams jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening set. Shvedova, who also reached the fouth round Wimbledon this season, tried to hang with Williams from the baseline. But the six-time US Open champion also proved too formidable in that area.
Soon enough, Williams on the strength of 14 winners and just five unforced errors, closed out the set 6-2.
Williams, who never faced a break point all match, fired down 11 aces in total. One of her serves also clocked in at 126 MPH, the fastest so far in the women’s event.
Williams, holding another service break in hand in the second set, soon served for the match just after the one hour mark. Williams fired down three aces and a final big serve to secure the comfortable 6-2, 6-3 historic win.
Williams has remained impressive in her first four matches having only dropped a total of 20 games.
Williams, who has not been broken all tournament yet, will next face No. 5 seed Simona Halep in the quarterfinals.
With Angelique Kerber and Agnieszka Radwanska still in the hunt for the WTA top ranking, Williams now needs to at least reach the final in order to maintain the No. 1 ranking.