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Factbox - Australian Open finalist Serena Williams

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Factbox on American Serena Williams, who plays sister Venus in the final of the Australian Open on Saturday: Born in Michigan on September 26, 1981. (Age: 35) GRAND SLAM CAREER: 22 wins - Australian Open (2003, 2005,2007, 2009, 2010, 2015); French Open (2002, 2013, 2015);Wimbledon (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016); U.S. Open(1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014) * Williams is level with Germany's Steffi Graf with the most grand slam singles titles in the professional era, although Margaret Court has 24. * One of five women, after Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf, to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time. * Williams also owns 14 women's grand slam doubles titles with older sister Venus and has won four Olympic gold medals: singles (2012), doubles (2000, 2008, 2012). MAKING HER NAME * Learned to play the game with Venus in Compton, California. * Both were coached by their father Richard. * Turned professional in September 1995. * Won her first WTA Tour title in Paris in 1999, beating Amelie Mauresmo in the final. * Defeated Martina Hingis in the U.S. Open final in 1999,becoming the first African American woman to win a grand slam singles title since Althea Gibson in 1958. TENNIS CAREER * Failed to make another grand slam final until 2001 when she lost in the U.S. Open final to older sister Venus. * Missed the 2002 Australian Open with injury then embarked on an incredible run that included winning five of the next six slams and losing in the semi-finals of the 2003 French Open. * Career affected by injury over the next four years, winning two Australian Open titles in 2005 and 2007 but failing to advance beyond the quarter-finals at the other three. * Won the U.S. Open in 2008 to break the grand slam drought, having not won a major title since the 2007 Australian Open. * At the 2009 U.S. Open, Williams was fined $175,000 and placed on a two-year probation for unsportsmanlike behaviour after being defaulted in the semi-final against Kim Clijsters. * Joined Billie-Jean King on all-time grand slam list in sixth with 12th major title at 2010 Australian Open. * Missed U.S. Open in 2010 because of medical complications after cutting her foot on glass while celebrating her win at Wimbledon. * In 2011, underwent surgery after a life-threatening bloodclot was detected on her lung. Made the U.S. Open final but lost to Australia's Sam Stosur. * Won Wimbledon in 2012 and followed that with Olympic gold on the same grass courts, beating top seed Victoria Azarenka in semi-finals and third seed Maria Sharapova in final. * Won fourth U.S. Open title in 2012, beating Azarenka in the final. * Won second Roland Garros title in 2013, one of 10 titles she lifted that year to reclaim world's top ranking. * Claimed seven titles in 2014, including her sixth U.S. Open, which was her third in succession, to join compatriots Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on 18 grand slam wins. * Defeats Maria Sharapova in the 2015 Australian Open final to secure her 19th grand slam title. * Despite battling a bout of flu, wins a third successive major title and 20th overall by overcoming Czech left-hander Lucie Safarova in the French Open final. * Claimed the so-called 'Serena Slam' by winning sixth Wimbledon crown to hold all four majors for the second time in her career. Seemed poised to secure a calendar grand slam at the 2015 U.S. Open but lost to Italy's Roberta Vinci in semi-final. * Loses the 2016 Australian Open final to Angelique Kerber and is then denied again in the French Open final, this time by Spain's Garbine Muguruza. * Beats Kerber to win Wimbledon for the seventh time in 2016, drawing level with Steffi Graf on 22 grand slam titles. * Missed the rest of the 2016 season with a shoulder problem after being knocked out of the U.S. Open in the semi-finals by Karolina Pliskova. * Was year-end number one from 2013-15 but lost the top ranking to Kerber because of her absence from the back end of the 2016 season. (Editing by Greg Stutchbury)