After clinching her seventh Wimbledon title Saturday, the first thing Serena Williams did was collapse on the turf.
When she got up, after hugging her opponent Angelique Kerber, the 34-year-old tennis star raised two fingers on each hand and grinned at the crowd — lucky number 22.
The win against Kerber earned Williams her 22nd Grand Slam singles title, matching the current record held by former player Steffi Graf.
Serena Williams celebrates her victory following The Ladies Singles Final against Angelique Kerber on day twelve of the Wimbledon championships.
The 34-year-old tennis star finally tied the biggest record in Open Era history, after coming close three times before.
Her Wimbledon victory last year earned Williams her 21st Grand Slam singles title, but she wasn't able to secure number 22 in subsequent matches.
In September 2015, Williams lost the U.S. Open semifinals to Roberta Vinci.
She faced Kerber at the Australian Open in January, and lost that time around.
And another loss to Garbine Muguruza at the French Open in June put the record-matching win out of reach once again.
Now, 14 years after her first ever Wimbledon victory, Williams finished the tournament marking this major career milestone.
"It makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked for it."
The American superstar played a seamless final against Kerber, serving 13 aces, and ultimately winning 7-5, 6-3.
"It’s been incredibly difficult not to think about it," Williams said during the trophy ceremony. “But it makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked for it.”
Winner Serena Williams (L) poses with the Venus Rosewater Dish, next to runner-up Germany's Angelique Kerber (R) after the women's singles final of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships.
Earlier this week, Williams asserted her prowess when reporters asked her about being one of the "greatest female athletes of all time."
The tennis champion clarified that she prefers to be called "one of the greatest athletes of all time".
Where the Grand Slam singles record is concerned, 22 is the most for either men or women.
The men's singles record is currently held by Swiss player Roger Federer with 17 wins.
Williams shared the day with family and friends, including Beyonce and Jay-Z, who watched the match from her guest box. The tennis pro made a cameo in Beyonce's surprise film "Lemonade" for the song "Sorry."
With the couple in the box was Williams' older sister Venus. She also competed in the tournament, but lost the singles semi-final to Kerber.
The two sisters will team up to compete in the women's doubles final Saturday.
— With files from The Associated Press
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