Oldest tennis Grand Slam singles finalist (female)
Who
Serena Williams
What
37:346 year(s):day(s)
Where
United States (New York)
When

Serena Williams (USA, b. 26 September 1981) was 37 years 346 days old when she was defeated by Canada’s Bianca Andreescu in the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York City, USA, on 7 September 2019.


Two other women have lost Grand Slam finals after turning 37: Martina Navratilova (b. 18 October 1956) was 37 years 257 days old when she took on Conchita Martinez in the Wimbledon final on 2 July 1994, and Venus Williams (b. 17 June 1980) was 37 years 28 days old when she was defeated by Garbiñe Muguruza in the Wimbledon final on 15 July 2017.

Roger Federer (b. 8 August 1981) was 37 years 340 days old – six days younger than Serena was when setting the female record – when he reached the final of Wimbledon on 14 July 2019. Australia’s Ken Rosewall (b. 2 November 1934) retains the absolute record after reaching the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 1974 when he was, respectively, 39 years 246 days old and 39 years 310 days old.

Since winning her 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open, Serena has had four opportunities to win her 24th title and equal Margaret Court’s all-time record. She reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals in both 2018 and 2019, but now has 10 losing Grand Slams finals to her name, dating back to 2001. She does, however, hold the record for the oldest tennis Grand Slam singles winner (female). Her 23rd title was won in Australia at the age of 35 years 124 days on 28 January 2017.

All records relate to the open era (since 1968), when professionals were allowed to compete alongside amateurs at the four Grand Slam tournaments.