Serena Williams records that may never be broken: Winning 10 majors after turning 30

No other woman in the Open Era has won more than three.

Published Aug 26, 2022

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Each day until the US Open, we'll highlight one statistic from Serena Williams' unparalleled career that will in all likelihood never be broken.

From winning three Grand Slam titles from match point down to capturing three of the four majors six times each and defeating No. 1 and No. 2 at the same tournament eight times, Serena Williams has set so many unique records throughout her career.

Today, we cover another one:

Winning 10 Grand Slam titles after turning 30

Though Serena’s been a world-beater from the start, winning her first Grand Slam title as a 17-year-old at the 1999 US Open and piling up another dozen majors in her 20s, she’s been like a fine wine, playing some of the best tennis of her career in her 30s.

Serena won 10 majors after turning 30—far and away the women's Open Era record.

MOST GRAND SLAM TITLES AFTER TURNING 30 (women, Open Era)

10: Serena Williams (2012 Wimbledon, 2012 US Open, 2013 Roland Garros, 2013 US Open, 2014 US Open, 2015 Australian Open, 2015 Roland Garros, 2015 Wimbledon, 2016 Wimbledon, 2017 Australian Open)
3: Margaret Court (1973 Australian Open, 1973 Roland Garros, 1973 US Open)
3: Martina Navratilova (1987 Wimbledon, 1987 US Open, 1990 Wimbledon)
2: Billie Jean King (1974 US Open, 1975 Wimbledon)
2: Chris Evert (1985 Roland Garros, 1986 Roland Garros)
1: Ann Jones (1969 Wimbledon)
1: Virginia Wade (1977 Wimbledon)
1: Li Na (2014 Australian Open)
1: Flavia Pennetta (2015 US Open)
1: Angelique Kerber (2018 Wimbledon)

Given that the only active woman other than Serena to win a major after turning 30 is Kerber, and that she’s nine behind Serena, this record is looking very unbreakable.

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Serena won every Grand Slam at least twice in her 30s—including three times at Wimbledon and three times at the US Open.

There are a few active men who are creeping up on Serena’s record, though—Novak Djokovic has now won nine majors since turning 30, the ninth of those coming in July at Wimbledon, and Rafael Nadal has won eight majors since turning 30, the seventh and eighth of those coming this year at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer are next on the men’s list, capturing four Grand Slam titles each after turning 30.

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