The Slatest

Watch Serena Williams Win Her Record-Tying 22nd Major

Serena Williams poses after her women’s singles final victory over Germany’s Angelique Kerber on July 9, 2016. 

Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images

With 13 aces and 39 winners, Serena Williams overpowered Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 to win her seventh Wimbledon title and 22nd major. The latter mark ties Steffi Graf’s record for most major wins in the Open Era.

Kerber, who beat Williams in the final of the Australian Open earlier this year, didn’t give this one away. Though Williams never lost her serve, it was a high-quality match from start to finish with thunderous baseline rallies and delicately sliced drop shots. Kerber, whose average first serve measured just 93 miles per hour compared to Williams’$2 109 mph, was only broken twice, once in the first set and once in the second.

At 3-3 in the first set, a 21-shot rally ended in a signature double fist pump from Serena.

Williams’ power was on display at 5-4 in the second set, when a blistering backhand nearly knocked Kerber off her feet.

Williams has never lost a major final after winning the first set. Though Kerber never gave up, she did throw her hands in the air in exasperation when Williams smoked yet another ace out wide at 1-1 in the second set.

Serena served for the match at 5-3, held at love, and fell to the court after putting away a forehand volley.

Now that she’s tied Graf, Williams will have a chance to overtake her at the U.S. Open. The latest major of the year starts on August 29 in New York.