(CNN) — She may have been ill but that didn’t stop Serena Williams from claiming a 19th grand slam title Saturday.
The world No. 1 beat second-ranked Maria Sharapova 6-3 7-6 (5) in an absorbing Australian Open final to move into sole possession of second place in grand slams won in the Open Era behind Steffi Graf’s 22.
Despite suffering from a fever and cough this week, Williams set the tone by breaking in the first game. She took control of the first set by winning six straight points following a 12-minute rain delay — organizers then opted to use the roof at Rod Laver Arena — for a 5-2 lead.
The second set was punctuated with shouts of “come on” from both players but it was ultimately Williams who had reason to celebrate the most.
A gutsy Sharapova saved a match point trailing 5-4 and another at 4-6 in the tiebreak — each time with forehands down the line — but when Williams finally had match point on her serve, she delivered her 18th ace.
Sharapova — who was bidding for a sixth major but first outside Roland Garros in seven years — lost her 16th straight match against the American.
Williams, too, maintained her record of never losing past the quarterfinals in Melbourne, improving to 12-0.
In Sunday’s men’s final, top-seed Novak Djokovic faces sixth-seed Andy Murray. Like Williams, four-time winner Djokovic has never been beaten at Melbourne Park in a semifinal or final.
