Serena Williams wins ASB classic tennis title, donates her prize money to Australian bush fire victims

By S.A. Yitta

Serena Wiliams has won her first tennis title in 2020 at ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, and has donated her $43,000 Auckland winner’s check for the Australia wildfire relief.

Speaking after the match on Sunday 12 January, 2020, Serena said, “Every match I will donate a dress and also donate all my prize money for a great course.”

While reacting to the Australian fire incident, the victorious, happy Serena remarked, “It’s been really hard for me to watch all the news and everything that has been happening. With all the fires, over billion animals, and people have lost their homes. So much has happened.”

With her donation of her $43 prize money, Serena has joined other tennis stars such as Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, Nick Kygrios, Rafael Nadal, Ash Barty and others who will help to raise fund for the Australian wildfire relief.

Serena’s victory at the ASB Classic is remarkable since three years after she became a mother. She defeated her fellow American, 25-year-old Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4.

Serena’s win at the ASB Classic is her first win in three years since the birth of Alexis Olympia, her first daughter.

Her last title win was in January 2017, at the Australian Open singles.

Asked how it feels for her to win since January 2017, she said:
“It feels good. It’s been a long time. I think you could see the relief on my face.”

Serena Williams has won 23 majors in her entire career and has managed to get to the final rounds in several tournaments since 2017 after the birth of Alexia Olympia. She got to the final rounds in 2018 and 2019 at both Wimbledon and the US Open.