Serena Williams beat Justine Henin to win the Australian Open final on Saturday 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. This is her second straight and fifth Aussie title overall, making it her 12th Grand Slam singles championship.
The world No 1 smashed 12 aces and held off a surge from Henin, moving Serena to sixth spot in the all-time list of grand slam champions and in a tie with Billie Jean King
Williams, with her right thigh and left knee heavily taped, fell on her back in celebration after match point. She is the first American woman to repeat as Australian Open champion since Jennifer Capriati in 2001-02.
In September 2009, Serena picked up a code violation and fine for unsportsmanlike conduct after threatening a judge who called her on a foot fault – see video and details here. The incident didn’t keep her from being named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in December 2009. She won by a landslide.
See our favorite photo gallery of Serena and Venus here.
More photos and video showing Serena in a bikini photo shoot and the Australian Open awards ceremony below.