Serena Williams Wins Australian Open

Serena Williams answered her critics with an overpowering victory in the Australian Open final.

Unseeded and ranked 81st, Williams won for her eighth and most improbable Grand Slam title Saturday, beating Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-2.

“It was an awesome win, because I had so many critics. So many people … saying negative things,” Williams said. “Saying I wasn’t fit, when I felt that I was really fit, and I could last three sets.

“It’s always like, tell me no and I’ll show you that I can do it. I get the greatest satisfaction just holding up the Grand Slam trophy and proving everyone wrong.”

Only the second unseeded woman to win the Australian title in the Open era, Williams came to Melbourne Park with only three matches at a low-key warmup tournament after missing most of last season because of a knee injury.

She will jump to No. 14 in the world next week after capturing her first title in 15 tournaments since her second Australian Open victory in 2005.

Despite doubts about her fitness, Williams thought she was in great shape.

“I have been working really hard and haven’t felt like my results have been showing,” she said. “And finally it just all came together, especially in the final match.”

Source: MSNBC.