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12th Jan 2020

Serena Williams wins first title in three years, donates prize money to Australian bushfire relief

Jade Hayden

What a result.

Serena Williams has won her first title in three years at the Auckland Classic.

The US sportswoman beat Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-4 in today’s singles finals in New Zealand, securing her 73rd WTA title – the first since she won the Australian Open in 2017.

Following her win, Williams said that she plans to donate her prize money to the Australian bushfire relief fund.

She will also be auctioning each of her nine outfits worn during the tournament to raise money to help those worst affected by the crisis.

“It feels good, it has been a long time,” Williams said following today’s win. “I played an incredible opponent in Jessica and honestly it was a great match.

“I was definitely improving as the week went on and I needed to because I had some tough matches.

“I feel fortunate and blessed to be out here and to be healthy and to play. I have been playing for so long and been through so much and I’m happy to be doing something I love.”

This is the first time that Williams has secured a title since giving birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia.

She will return to the court later today alongside Caroline Wozniacki to take on Asia Muhammad and Taylor Townsend in a doubles match.

20×20 is an ambitious two-year long initiative to better promote and champion women in sport.

With the tagline of “if she can’t see it, she can’t be it,” the 20×20 movement has three targets to reach by 2020:

  • 20 percent more media coverage of women in sport
  • 20 percent more female participation
  • 20 percent more attendance at women’s competitions and events

And at Maximum Media, we’re proud that Her and SportsJOE is backing the 20×20 movement as official digital media partners.