Serena captures 18th grand slam
Print Edition
SERENA Williams allowed herself a moment to savor a third straight US Open win on Sunday, but only a moment.
Just three hours after securing her 18th grand slam title with a dominating 6-3, 6-3 win over Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, the world No. 1 soaked up the accolades and applause and then admitted that she was already thinking about No. 19 and third spot on the all-time list now held by Helen Wills Moody.
“I am thinking 19,” said Williams, who shares fourth on the list with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. “Hasn’t even been three hours and I have already mentioned 19. Oh, gosh, but not 22.
“I’m taking it one at a time.”
Williams will celebrate her 33rd birthday later this month and clearly has plans to celebrate many more grand slam titles as she climbs further-and-further up the rankings. Moody, at No. 19, is the next target but just ahead sits Steffi Graf on 22 and just ahead her is the great Margaret Court who tops the list with 24.
Until Sunday it did not look as if Williams would add to her grand slam haul this season. She had added five tournament titles to her collection this season, coming into the US Open with her career total at 62, but at the grand slams she had fallen flat, failing to get beyond the last 16 in any of the first three majors.
However, if there was any thought that Williams’ career was on the decline she erased it with a stunningly ruthless performance, confirming herself as the Queen of Flushing Meadows.
In claiming her sixth US Open and third straight, Williams did not drop a set and never lost more than three games in any of them, capping off her run to the title with a ruthless 75 minute demolition of her one of her best friends to the delight of her fans who packed Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
“I just could never have imagined that I would be mentioned with Chris Evert or with Martina Navratilova, because I was just a kid with a dream and a racquet,” offered a humble Williams. “Living in Compton, this never happened before,” she said.
And this was just the beginning, not the end, she said.
“I want to do really well and I love the game,” Williams added.
“The reason I play is to sit at the end of the day and hold the trophy or stand and hold the trophy. For me, that’s my joys. I’m just a simple individual who just wants to win titles and wants to play tennis.”
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