Serena Williams Defeats Lucie Safarova to Claim 20th Grand Slam Victory

Serena Williams, won a historic 20th grand slam championship and a third French Open and 3rd major in a row, going back to 2014's US OPEN victory.

Williams who was fighting off the flu managed to stave off Lucie Safarova's upset bid to prevail 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-2.

Williams now has three French Open trophies to go alongside six each from the U.S. Open and Australian Open, and five from Wimbledon. She also became the first woman to win consecutive U.S. Open, Australian Open, and French Open titles since Monica Seles in 1991-92.

SERENA WILLIAMS defeated Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to win the 2015 Wimbledon Championship. In so doing, Williams completed the “Serena Slam” by winning four straight majors, a second time for her. This is Serena’s 6th Wimbledon win and her 21st Grand Slam. If Serena wins the US OPEN, she would become the first player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to complete the calendar-year grand slam.

With this win, Williams also became the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open Era at 33 years and 289 days old, beating Martina Navratilova, who won the 1990 Wimbledon Championships at 33 years and 263 days old.

VIDEO: WTA appears to be biased against Serena Williams

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) goes on the bench because of its rankings and grand slam tournament seeding and draws, especially the current Wimbledon championships, which has loaded Serena Williams' top half of the draw with Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Lucie Safarova, Sloane Stephens and her sister Venus Williams, whom she will play next in the quarter finals.

The on-air analysts and commentators never seem to question the WTA’s grand slam tournament seeding and draws. The tennis media always seem resigned to say well Serena will earn this championship if she can get through. Meanwhile the bottom half of the draw, where Sharapova normally resides, was occupied by defending champion Petra Kvitova until she was unceremoniously ousted by veteran bad girl, Jelena Jankovic.

As two-time US OPEN champ Tracy Austin pointed out, with Petra out, the bottom half of the draw has no major championships, while Serena's top half has 34 grand slam victories and even taking Serena's 20 out, that still leaves 14 major winners. And coincidently, American Madison Keys, is the only black player in the bottom half, while Serena has already played the match of the tournament against Great Britain's own black rising star, Heather Watson and miraculously staging a comeback with Watson’s two points from winning.

Serena will potentially play what would be three finals to get to the finals while her opponents will walk through and only have to produce their best tennis once for a chance at history. And they have the nerve to ask why the sisters pulled out of playing doubles. I don't think the powers that be want Serena to break the all-time record for majors and they definitely don't want her and Venus to meet in the finals.

So, WTA, you’re on the bench!

Women's Tennis Association's Wimbledon Grand Slam Seeding and Draws Seem to be Biased Against Serena Williams

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) goes on the bench because of its rankings and grand slam tournament seeding and draws, especially the current Wimbledon championships, which has loaded Serena Williams' top half of the draw with Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Lucie Safarova, Sloane Stephens and her sister Venus Williams, whom she will play next in the quarter finals.

The on-air analysts and commentators never seem to question the WTA’s grand slam tournament seeding and draws. The tennis media always seem resigned to say well Serena will earn this championship if she can get through. Meanwhile the bottom half of the draw, where Sharapova normally resides, was occupied by defending champion Petra Kvitova until she was unceremoniously ousted by veteran bad girl, Jelena Jankovic.

As two-time US OPEN champ Tracy Austin pointed out, with Petra out, the bottom half of the draw has no major championships, while Serena's top half has 34 grand slam victories and even taking Serena's 20 out, that still leaves 14 major winners. And coincidently, American Madison Keys, is the only black player in the bottom half, while Serena has already played the match of the tournament against Great Britain's own black rising star, Heather Watson and miraculously staging a comeback with Watson’s two points from winning.

Serena will potentially play what would be three finals to get to the finals while her opponents will walk through and only have to produce their best tennis once for a chance at history. And they have the nerve to ask why the sisters pulled out of playing doubles. I don't think the powers that be want Serena to break the all-time record for majors and they definitely don't want her and Venus to meet in the finals.

So, WTA, you’re on the bench!

…And her name is Serena Williams

This week has been a long time coming and it almost seems as if the Hollywood stars aligned and decided to drop this mega-hit movie, Straight Outta Compton at the same time that a little girl from South Central, LA born just a few years before NWA would change the music game, would be the unexpected, uninvited mega-Watts (see what I did there) superstar that would change the game of tennis and women’s place in sports. Regardless, or better yet, in spite of what advertisers or marketing “know-it-alls” might say, or where they invest their dollars, it’s Serena Williams’ world and we’re all just visiting!

It cannot be overstated how historic this particular moment is for the world of tennis, sports, America and African Americans. Unfortunately, it’s all too common these days for pop culture and the media to bloviate over the significance of an artist, athlete or celebrity…just look at the hours, days, weeks and months wasted on trying to substantiate Donald Trump’s circus of a presidential campaign. However, this is real and Serena’s Grand Slam campaign highlights in the best way possible what can be achieved if you have a strong family foundation that emphasizes faith, family, education, loyalty and hard work.

It would be compelling just to be the three-time defending US Open Champion going for her fourth in a row and it would be impractical to list here all the milestones Serena Williams is amassing through this seemingly never-ending display of excellence at the highest level, but here’s a few:

• World No.1 Serena Williams is on a 28-match winning streak at Grand Slam level having won the 2014 US Open, 2015 Australian Open, 2015 Roland Garros and 2015 Wimbledon – her second non-calendar year Grand Slam.

• Serena is trying to win her seventh US Open title (wouldn't just be the first Grand Slam she'll have seven of, but also the most US Open titles for a woman in Open Era – currently tied with Chris Evert at six)

• Serena has made over $73 million in prize money and by comparison, Sharapova earned $35 million.

• The legacy Serena Williams and her sister Venus have built with the likes of Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Taylor Townsend, Victoria Duval, Sacha Vickery, Heather Watson, Tornado & Hurricane Black, etc. is transformational and extends well beyond players of African ancestry.

• The 2015 US Open Women’s Final has sold out already and is the first time it has done so ahead of the Men’s Final and it’s trending as the excitement and anticipation of Serena’s unparalleled mark on history draws closer.

Leading up to the US Open Draw Ceremony and her first Press Conference everyone was primed with their obligatory questions about the elephant in the room, PRESSURE!!…and how do you deal with it? And while she gave very thoughtful and honest answers about feeling more pressure to win at Wimbledon to complete the second “Serena Slam”, I wanted to inject some historical context, if given the chance and we were. Given her recent interview where she was asked about Maria Sharapova making more endorsement money than her, Serena explained that it may not be meant for her to be that top earner and she was grateful for the doors opened by Althea Gibson, Zina Garrison, Arthur Ashe and her own sister Venus Williams and that she is trying to open doors for the next generation, so the next might be that top earner.

So I asked, “Have you seen the new documentary about Althea Gibson that was being screened throughout the opening week?”

Serena Williams responded: “I have not seen it yet. I knew it was coming out around the OPEN (US OPEN). I’ll definitely have to check that out.”

And, I had the opportunity to ask a follow-up question, “Everybody talks about the pressure, is that something by seeing those previous players allows you to bear it easier?”

Serena proceeded with a thoughtful response, “Well, I just look at someone like Althea and Zina. Let’s face it, I have it a lot easier than them. There are so many barriers that have been broken. When I look at it in that point of view, that aspect, a whole weight is like lifted off my shoulders. I’m doing well and I’m really happy to be here.”

Her new campaign is #BESERENA but she’s humble and gracious enough to acknowledge #AltheaCameFirst.

We’re even happier for you Serena and can’t wait until you raise our national trophy again, “Straight Into the Record Books” is the title of her movie. #411SportsTV and #Whatsthe411Sports

New York Times is on the bench for perpetuating a negative narrative of Serena Williams' body

I am putting the New York Times goes on the bench for allowing a story to run denigrating tennis phenom, Serena Williams’ body.

You can see my discussion of this topic Commentary: New York Times Depicts Serena Williams Body as Masculine

VIDEO: Serena Williams defeats Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in straight sets 6-4, 6-4; greatest women's tennis player ever

SERENA WILLIAMS takes Wimbledon; she defeated Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. In so doing, Williams completed the “Serena Slam” by winning four straight majors, a second time for her. This is Serena’s 6th Wimbledon win and her 21st Grand Slam. If Serena wins the US OPEN, she would become the first player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to complete the calendar-year grand slam.

The legendary professional tennis player, Serena Williams, won a historic 20th grand slam championship and a third French Open and 3rd major in a row, going back to 2014's US OPEN victory.

Williams who was fighting off the flu managed to stave off Lucie Safarova's upset bid to prevail 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-2.

Williams now has three French Open trophies to go alongside six each from the U.S. Open and Australian Open, and five from Wimbledon. She also became the first woman to win consecutive U.S. Open, Australian Open, and French Open titles since Monica Seles in 1991-92.

 Watch What's The 411Sports Episode 35

In this 35th episode of What's The 411Sports, we show off our new set and have a jam-packed discussion about:

Serena Williams

American Pharoah

The FIFA Scandal

The New York Liberty

David Wright of the New York Mets

Bleacher reports list of the 50 Greatest Quarterbacks

Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson's Marriage Annulment

Lewis Hamilton's Win of the Canadian Formula 1 Race

In the Dog House are: Brandon Spikes; FIF; and Brian Matusz