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Serena Williams hits stunning four-year high amid grand slam drought

Serena Williams (pictured) getting frustrated during her Australian Open semi-final appearance against Naomi Osaka.
Serena Williams (pictured) has climbed into the WTA Top 7 for the first time since 2017 after her semi-final appearance at the Australian Open. (Getty Images)

Serena Williams may still be chasing that allusive 24th Grand Slam title, but the American has reached a four-year WTA ranking.

The 39-year-old American was spotted back on the court training with Grigor Dimitrov following her heartbreaking loss at the Australian Open semi-final to eventual winner Naomi Osaka.

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Williams was devastated after her crushing loss and dodged questions around her retirement in the post-match press conference.

But in reaching the semi-final in dominant fashion, Williams reached a four-year high of World No.7.

While Williams was ranked inside the Top 10 last November, she hasn't reached World No.7 since July 2017.

The American won the Miami Open at just 19-years-old to crack into the WTA Top 10 back in 1999.

Williams search for allusive 24th Grand Slam

Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2017, before taking time off to give birth to her daughter later that year.

The champion returned to the court in March 2018 and reached four Grand Slam finals, which she lost.

Williams took time off at the end of 2020 to make her charge at the 2021 Australian Open title.

After defeating rivals Simona Halep and Aryna Sabalenka, Williams fell to the dominant Osaka in heartbreaking fashion.

The 39-year-old is currently the third oldest player on Tour, behind Hungarian Greta Arn and her sister Venus.

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