Melbourne: World number one Serena Williams joined the pantheon of tennis legends after recording a fourth straight Grand Slam victory over big sister Venus to win the Australian Open crown on Saturday.

The 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4 triumph put the 21-year-old into an exclusive club, Williams joining greats Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf as the only women to have achieved the feat.

Graf was the last woman to have held all four titles at the same time when she won the Australian Open in 1994. Serena choked back tears when presented with her trophy and later said she was honoured to add her name to the list of women to win all four Grand Slam titles.

"I can't believe that I can be compared to these women, to be in their category is really amazing," Serena said after the final, which was played with the roof of the Rod Laver Arena closed as Melbourne sweltered in 44-degree temperatures, the second hottest day in the city's history.

"It definitely feels really special to even be mentioned with Maureen Connolly. I've always looked at her story, that's just super special. Really only a handful of people have done it. I guess it's a really special feeling."

Williams is now one-quarter of the way to becoming only the fourth player to win a calendar year Grand Slam.

"I'm definitely going to try to win all four Grand Slams in one year, but Venus might have an unbelievable year and win the next three," she said.

While Serena celebrated, Venus could not hide her disappointment in defeat, the fourth time in a row that she has been beaten in a Grand Slam final by her sibling.

"I don't like losing altogether, whether it's to Serena or any other player," Williams said. "It's just never fun. I never go to the finals and say 'Yes, I'm losing today'. I'm going out there with the attitude I'm going to out there, do my best and try to take the title."

Williams paid tribute to her sister's achievement in holding all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. "Not many people get all four Slams, so that's really wonderful, it really is," she said.

Serena's fifth Grand Slam title helped her overtake Venus who has won four during her career. Venus said her sister's stronger mental approach had been the difference between the two.

"I think right now she's just probably a little mentally tougher out there than I was today. I think maybe that's the main thing that's dropped off in me. Usually, I would just really get in there and take a match like that," she said, putting her sister's run of form down to 'momentum'.

"When you're on top, you're on top. That's the way it is" she said. Typically, the ever-loyal Serena later refused to accept Venus' assertion that she had a mental edge.

"I wouldn't say I'm more mentally tough than Venus," she said. "Most of my ideas and everything I actually get from her. Most of my fight and courage I've gotten from Venus. So I don't know if that's a true statement."

Agencies