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     Williams Wins Australian Open with Straight-Set Victory over Sharapova

   by VOA News

   Serena Williams of the United States defeated Russia's Maria Sharapova
   in the Australian Open finals Saturday, in straight sets to claim her
   19^th Grand Slam title.

   The victory makes it the sixth in Australia for Williams, currently
   ranked number one in the world. She has defeated No. 2-ranked Sharapova
   in their last 16 meetings.

   The 6-3, 7-6 victory in Melbourne also leaves Williams just three Grand
   Slam titles shy of German Steffi Graf's record 22 titles in the Open
   era.

   Williams is now alone in second place, having passed Martina
   Navratilova and Chris Evert with Saturday's win.  Both Navratilova and
   Evert witnessed Saturday's final.

   The men's final Sunday features world number one Novak Djokovic of
   Serbia against number six Andy Murray of Scotland.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/australia-open-tennis-williams/262272
   8.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/australia-open-tennis-williams/2622728.html