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Love game! Serena fiance Alexis Ohanian fought nerves at Australian Open final

Tortured by nerves in a tense family affair, Serena Williams had to produce some of her best tennis to overcome sister Venus Williams who won the crowd at Rod Laver Arena by scrapping hard to the end of the Australian Open women’s tennis final. Serena was congratulated by her would-be husband Alexis Ohanian for her 6-4, 6-4 win

tennis Updated: Jan 28, 2017 18:35 IST
Bihan Sengupta
Bihan Sengupta
serena williams,venus williams,australian open
Alexis Ohanian, fiance of Serena Williams, at the Australian Open tennis championship 2017. (REUTERS)

Serena Williams on Saturday became the most decorated singles player in the Open Era as she clinched her 23rd Grand Slam title beating her sister Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 in the Australian Open women’s singles final at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.

Serena Williams reclaimed her No.1 spot in the rankings with the win and also joined Martina Navratilova as the only other woman to win six Grand Slams without dropping a set.

It was a special night for the Williams sisters who met at a Grand Slam final after nearly eight years.

It wasn’t the most competitive or gruelling battle between the two sisters but the aura and romanticism surrounding the rivalry between the two kept the audience on the edge of their seats throughout.

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian applauds as he watches his fiancee United States' Serena Williams defeat Switzerland's Belinda Bencic in her first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne on January 17. (AP)

Among them were Reddit co-founder and Serena’s fiance Alexis Ohanian, who could be seen vividly tensed and upset every time Serena failed to convert a break point or take a winner.

However, to his relief and the majority of the crowd at the Rod Laver Arena, Serena quickly got back to her feet and served big to pile up the pressure on Venus.

However, once Serena got the break in the seventh game of the second set and held her serve to go 5-3 up, there were smiles on Alexis Ohanian’s face who knew the record was just a game away.

Serena took 41 minutes to win the second set and the championship and blew a kiss Ohanian at the stands soon after.

“I’m really a career-oriented woman but it’s a bonus to have my fiancee around,” Serena told after the match.

Ohanian took to Twitter to wish Serena on her 7th Australian Open victory.

“I’m so proud of you, Serena,” he stated, while retweeting the championship point.

The official Twitter handle of the Australian Open later posted a video where Ohanian could be seen meeting Serena off-court to congratulate her.

First Published: Jan 28, 2017 17:50 IST

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