Another match, another record.
The career of, arguably, the greatest woman tennis player of all time has reached a point where a staggering statistic accompanies almost every appearance.
When Williams beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-3 6-3 in the third round at Melbourne Park on Friday a number more relevant than most clicked over.
Williams’ victory in the third round of the Australian Open was her 61st at the tournament, eclipsing the previous record held by Australia’s greatest women’s player, Margaret Court.
It is a figure Williams will almost certainly add to by the time the championship is over when it will likely be 65 wins and six Australian Open titles.
And there will be more.
Williams has played professional tennis for more than half her life. She appeared in her first grand slam event, the 1998 Australian Open, as a 16-year-old.
But neither years nor kilometres appear to weary her.
In 2013, at the age of 31, Williams won a career-best 11 titles, including the French and US Opens.
It was the best performance by a woman player in 16 years.
There are some statistics alongside Williams’ name that are more impressive than they are relevant.
Prizemoney is one. When she nudged her on-court earnings past $23 million at the 2009 Australian Open, it was a record for a woman player.
In a reflection of the almost obscene levels that prizemoney has reached, Williams has more than doubled the figure to $54 million in the five years since.
But there are some aspects of her dominance that are due not to inflation or excess, but to her alone.
Like her ability to seal the deal.
In 21 appearances in grand slam finals, she has won 17. That figure also represents one major title for every three grand slam singles championships in which she has played.
Similarly, she has lost only five grand slam matches after winning the first set.
Williams applies logic to this stat that is as sound as her play.
“I always try to win the first set …. and the second,” she said.
“I’m always trying to be the best that I can be.”
For the 18th time in a grand slam championship, Williams’ best seems likely to be good enough.
