Analysis: Venus Williams vs. Jelena Ostapenko

Venus Williams v Jelena Ostapenko - 2017 record

Here's a look at the form and previous records of American Venus Williams and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia ahead of their quarter-final match on Centre Court at Wimbledon on Tuesday (prefix number denotes seeding):

10-Venus Williams (U.S.)

The American's first Wimbledon appearance in 1997 coincided with the year in which her quarter-final opponent was born, and the veteran will be counting on the experience she has accumulated over the years to see off the young pretender.

Williams is the oldest player since then 37-year-old Martina Navratilova in 1994 to reach the quarter-finals, but her groundstrokes have lost none of their formidable power, as she proved while despatching Ana Konjuh in straight sets on Monday.

13-Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia)

The Latvian was only three when Williams won Wimbledon for the first time and despite the gulf in their ages, the freshly minted French Open champion is unlikely to be fazed by her first outing on the most famous grass court in the world.

The 20-year-old's all-or-nothing style of play has already lit up the tournament but she must not allow Venus to throw her off her stride and disrupt her rhythm.

Venus Williams v Jelena Ostapenko - head to head

10-Williams, 13-Ostapenko

Head-to-head: 0, 0

WTA world ranking: 11, 13

Age: 37, 20

Height: 1.85 metres, 1.77 metres

Plays: Right-handed, Right-handed

2017 win-loss record: 24-7, 34-12

2017 WTA singles titles: 0, 1

Venus Williams v Jelena Ostapenko - 2017 record

A look at the 2017 records of American Venus Williams and Latvian Jelena Ostapenko ahead of their quarter-final match at Wimbledon on Tuesday (prefix number denotes seeding):

10-VENUS WILLIAMS (record at WTA events and grand slams in 2017)

Wimbledon: beat Ana Konjuh (Croatia) 6-3 6-2 in the fourth round

French Open: lost to Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) 5-7 6-2 6-1 in the fourth round

Rome: lost to Garbine Muguruza (Spain) 6-2 3-6 6-2 in the quarter-finals

Charleston: lost to Laura Siegemund (Germany) 6-4 6-7(3) 7-5 in the second round

Miami: lost to Johanna Konta (Britain) 6-4 7-5 in the semi-finals

Indian Wells: lost to Elena Vesnina (Russia) 6-2 4-6 6-3 in the quarter-finals

St. Petersburg: lost to Kristina Mladenovic (France) 6-3 6-1 in the second round

Australian Open: lost to Serena Williams (U.S.) 6-4 6-4 in the final

Auckland: handed walkover to Naomi Osaka (Japan) in the second round

13-JELENA OSTAPENKO (record at WTA events and grand slams in 2017)

Wimbledon: beat Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) 6-3 7-6(6) in the fourth round

Eastbourne: lost to Johanna Konta (Britain) in the third round 7-5 3-6 6-4

French Open: beat Simona Halep (Romania) 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the final

Rome: lost to Garbine Muguruza (Spain) in the second round 2-6 6-2 6-1

Prague: semi-final loss to Kristyna Pliskova (Czech Republic) 6-4 6-2

Stuttgart: lost to Coco Vandeweghe (U.S.) in the first round 7-6(3) 7-6(3)

Charleston: lost to Daria Kasatkina (Russia) in the final 6-3 6-1

Miami: lost to Madison Brengle (U.S.) in the first round 6-3 3-6 6-2

Indian Wells: second-round loss to Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 6-4 3-6 6-3

Acapulco: lost to Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) in the quarter-finals 6-3 7-6(5)

Dubai: first-round loss to Wang Qiang (China) 7-6(1) 6-2

St. Petersburg: lost to Donna Vekic (Croatia) in the first round 6-0 6-4

Australian Open: lost to Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) in the third round 4-6 6-0 10-8

Auckland: lost to Lauren Davis (U.S.) in the semi-finals 4-6 6-4 4-1 Retired (Compiled by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Serena Williams wins record 23rd major with win over Venus

By JOHN PYE
AP Sports Writer

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Serena Williams has won her record 23rd Grand Slam singles title, and her sister was right there on court to give her a congratulatory hug.

The all-Williams final - the first at the Australian Open since Serena won the first edition here in 2003 - went to the younger sibling 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday night.

With her record seventh Australian title, the 35-year-old Williams moved ahead of Steffi Graf for the most major titles in the Open era. Margaret Court has the all-time record and was also in the crowd for the final.

Court won 24 majors, but collected 13 of those before the Open era which began in 1968 after the sport became professional.

The victory at Rod Laver Arena also ensured Serena Williams will regain the top ranking, which she lost in September after 186 straight weeks when Angelique Kerber won the U.S. Open.

It was Serena's seventh win in nine all-Williams Grand Slam finals, and the first since Wimbledon in 2009. It was 36-year-old, No. 13-seeded Venus Williams' first trip back to a major final in 7 ½ years.

Serena sat on the court, holding both arms up for a while, before Venus walked over to her sister's side of the net for a hug.

"This was a tough one," Serena Williams said. "I really would like to take this moment to congratulate Venus, she's an amazing person - she's my inspiration.

"There's no way I would be at 23 without her - there's no way I would be at one without her. Thank-you Venus for inspiring me to be the best player I can be and inspiring me to work hard."

Williams has won 15 majors since last losing to Venus in a Grand Slam final, at Wimbledon in 2008. That was the seventh and last major title that the older of the Williams sisters won.

Venus hadn't made the second week of a major for a few years as she came to terms with an energy-sapping illness since being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome in 2011, and made her return to the semifinals at Wimbledon last year.

"She's made an amazing comeback ... I don't like the word comeback," Serena Williams said. "She's never left. She's been such a great champion."

The match didn't live up to its classic billing, with nerves and tension causing uncharacteristic mistakes and unforced errors and four consecutive service breaks before Venus finally held for a 3-2 lead. That included a game when Serena had game point but served back-to-back double-faults and three in all to give up the break.

There were six service breaks in all. Both players were relatively subdued, except for Serena's racket smashing spike on the court in the third game that earned her a code violation.

After the fourth game, however, Serena Williams didn't face another break point in the 1-hour, 22-minute match.

"Serena Williams, that's my little sister, guys. Congratulations Serena on No. 23," Venus said. "I have been right there with you. Some of them I have lost right there against you. It's been an awesome thing, your win has always been my win, you know that. All the times I couldn't be there, wouldn't be there, didn't get there, you were there."

Venus stayed in the match with 21 winners, and won the longest rally of the match, but couldn't seem to keep up with her sister as the match progressed.

In terms of total years, it was the oldest Grand Slam women's final in the Open era with the Williams sisters combining for 71 years, 11 months.

Serena hadn't wanted to talk about the No. 23 before or during the tournament. She finally can now. She also had a pair of ready-made shoes - a red and black pair with the No. 23 stamped on the heel that were waiting for her to wear after the trophy presentation.