This archive report was first published on 12 January 2020.
On Sunday, Serena Williams lifted her first trophy since the 2017 Australian Open, ending a three-year title drought in the WTA Auckland Classic final.
Williams, 38, donated her $43,000 winner's cheque to the Australian bushfire relief fund, describing how the tragedy had affected her deeply.
"I've been playing in Australia for over 20 years and it's been really hard for me to watch all the news and everything that has been happening in Australia with all the fire and... animals and people that have lost their homes," she said.
Williams' victory marked her first title since 2017, and her first as a mother, since she won the Australian Open while pregnant. Her 73 WTA titles now stretch across four decades, after she won her first in 1999.
Williams, the tournament top seed, slipped 1-3 behind in the first set against unseeded Pegula, a fellow American. However, she found her range and never looked back, winning 6-3, 6-4.
"It's been a long time, I think you could see the relief on my face," she said, adding she could feel her game sharpening up as she prepares to head to Melbourne.
Williams' donation to the Australian bushfire relief fund is a testament to her compassion and commitment to giving back to the community.
