Getting your player ready...
All those winner’s checks for Serena Williams have added up.
By reaching two finals at the Australian Open, she broke golf star Annika Sorenstam’s record for career prize money by a female athlete with nearly $23 million.
Williams was busy Thursday, first beating Elena Dementieva of Russia 6-3, 6-4 in the singles semifinals, then pairing with older sister Venus for a victory in the doubles semifinals.
Even if she were to lose both title matches, she would leave Australia with career earnings of about $22.7 million, eclipsing Sorenstam’s total by more than $150,000.
If Williams wins both titles, she’ll push her haul to more than $23.5 million.
When told of the news, Williams recalled her first check of $240 from an event in Canada in 1995.
