A look back at the most inspiring tennis victories of recent times on the WTA Tour

Modified Feb 04, 2017 10:27 GMT

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: Flavia Pennetta (R) of Italy and Roberta Vinci (L) of Italy pose with their trophies after their Women's Singles Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2015 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Pennetta defeated Vinci 7-6, 6-2. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) — Flavia Pennetta (R) and Roberta Vinci (L) pose with their trophies at the 2015 US Open

#2 Venus Williams: 2017 Australian Open semi-final

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Venus Williams of the United States celebrates winning match point in her semifinal match against CoCo Vandeweghe of the United States on day 11 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) — Venus Williams celebrates her win against Coco Vandeweghe at the 2017 Australian Open

One can bank upon Venus Williams when it comes to setting record books straight; she did so once again with her finals appearance at the 2017 Australian Open taking the record for longest span (20 years) between Grand Slam Final appearances, having first reached her first Grand Slam Final at the 1997 US Open.

An inspired Williams reached the semi-final stage without the loss of a single set.

In her path to the final was fellow American Coco Vandeweghe, the player who had outhit the likes of Garbine Muguruza and the defending champion and top seed Angelique Kerber. Venus went on the win the match coming from a set down to reach her first major final since the 2009 Wimbledon, and offered the crowd what might go down as one of the most popular and animated post-win reactions of all time.

Venus Williams and Father Richard recall one match that 7-time Grand Slam champion "should have won"

Edited by Staff Editor