Serena Williams Breaks World Record For Most Grand Slams Won, Here's Why She Deserves Her #1 Ranking

Serena Williams is arguably the most dominant tennis player in the history of the sport. In her humble days as a youth growing up in Compton, California, her father and coach, Richard Williams, taught her the importance of focus, discipline, and hard work. She has become a fierce competitor showing us how history is made every single time she steps out on the court. The Australian Open was another example of her rise to greatness.

Serena became the first tennis player, male or female, to win a record 23 Grand Slam titles during the Open era. She defeated older sister Venus in the finals, 6-4 and 6-4. The two have battled against one another 28 times with the younger sibling besting the elder 17 times. After her victory, Serena had this to say to USA Today about the historic moment: "Playing Venus, it’s stuff that legends are made of," Serena said. "I couldn’t have written a better story. I just feel it was the right moment. Everything kind of happened. It hasn’t quite set in yet, but it’s really good."

Breaking Graf's record has special meaning for the superstar: "It’s such a great feeling to have 23," Williams said. "It really feels great. I’ve been chasing it for a really long time. It feels like, [a] really long time. When it got on my radar, I knew I had an opportunity to get there, and I’m here."

Serena had previously tied the record of 22 wins held by Steffi Graf. The icing on the cake is that she has also regained her number one ranking. With a Grand Slam win average of .348, she leaves the all-time best men's player Roger Federer in the dust with his impressive, yet very distant average of .261. She is being touted as possibly the best player in all of tennis. Ever.

If she was chasing her next record, Serena would have Australia's Margaret Court in her sights. She was the first woman to win a Grand Slam in the Open era back in 1970 and still holds the all-around record for 24 singles titles. Though many of her matches occurred before the Open era, she is still touted as an icon in the sport. Court told the New York Times, "If she beats my record, she deserves it," Court said. "I’m not going to lose any sleep over it."

Court is the sport's biggest winner with 62 Grand Slam victories which includes singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Serena currently sits at 39. Court is confident that neither Serena nor anyone else will best that record. Serena's coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, respects Court's accomplishments but points out that this is the professional era of tennis. Court's last Grand Slam win was in 1973. Comparing herself and the times to Serena isn't an apples to apples comparison, "With all the respect to Margaret Court, it’s another era," Mouratoglou was quoted in Baseline. "Of course the record is there, and we definitely want to beat it, but there is a professional era, and the record was Steffi Graf."

It's probably not wise to count Serena Williams out. Even at 35 years old, she is playing the best tennis of her career and doesn't seem to be slowing down. It is quite a lofty goal, but what we all have to remember is that winners are their best and only competition. If Serena breaks Court's record, it'll just be another day at the office.