Serena Williams, Roger Federer Chasing History

Lawn Tennis, Ace Tennis Magazine, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Serena Williams, Roger Federer Chasing History
By Tripp Mateschitz, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Saturday, February 13, 2010 8:20pm PST USA

Serena Williams, Rogerer Federer, Steffi Graf, Lawn Tennis, The Grand Slam, Ace Tennis Magazine, Lawn Tennis Magazine

MELBOURNE--After their convincing title victories at last month's Australian Open, tennis' first of four grand slams, both the top ranked Serena Williams of the USA and Roger Federer of Switzerland each earned an opportunity this year to reach tennis' greatest prize: the Grand Slam.

Last completed in 1988 by Steffi Graf of Germany, the Grand Slam consists of winning singles titles at the

Serena Wiliams, Roger Federer, Steffi Graf | Images: Getty, AFP, unknown

Last completed in 1988 by Steffi Graf of Germany, the Grand Slam consists of winning singles titles at the Australian Open as well as the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in one calendar year.

Australian Open as well as the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in one calendar year. Graf also won the gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics causing her feat to be dubbed the Golden Grand Slam.

Williams recorded the last non-calendar Grand Slam in 2002-2003 after winning in Paris, London and New York in 2002 before taking the Melbourne title in 2003. But for an injury withdrawal from the Australian Open in 2002, Williams perhaps could have gone on to win a calendar Grand Slam in 2002.

Williams stands a chance of winning the doubles grand slam as well as she also took the Australian Open women's doubles title at Melbourne in January with her sister Venus Williams.

The last male tennis player to win the Grand Slam was the Australian Rod Laver in 1969. Laver also took all four majors in 1962.

Don Budge of the USA (1938), Margaret Court of Australia (1970) and Maureen Connolly Brinker of the USA (1953) are the only other tennis players ever to win the Grand Slam.

In the Australian Open final, Williams overpowered Justine Henin of Belgian 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to win her fifth career Melbourne singles title and 12th career singles grand slam title.

The 28 year old Williams was before her professional debut thought to be the weaker of the two Williams sisters. But since then, the younger of the two sisters, Serena Williams has more or less surpassed her sister in most of tennis' record book regards.

The taller of the two sisters, the 29 year old Venus Williams at 6 feet 1 inches however possesses the fastest female serve ever and has won five Wimbledon singles titles to Serena Williams' three.

Federer defeated Andy Murray of Great Britain 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(13-11) in the Melbourne final.

For Federer and Williams, the clay of Paris at the French Open could prove their toughest obstacles this year. Both Federer (2009) and Williams (2002) have only won the championship title in Paris once while meanwhile both taking all the other grand slams on multiple occasions.

Federer, considered by many to be the greatest tennis player ever, several years ago won Wimbledon (2003-2007) and the US Open (2004-2008) both five years in a row.

At tennis' next grand slam, the French Open which begins May 24th, Federer as well as Williams will both look to temper their aggressive attacking games towards the longer baseline rallies of the slow terre battue.

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