Serena Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets to win her sixth US Open and 18th Grand Slam title Sunday, BBC reported
New York: Serena Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets to win her sixth US Open and 18th Grand Slam title Sunday, BBC reported.
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Serena Williams. Pic/AFP
The World No.1 American won 6-3 6-3 at Flushing Meadows in New York.
The victory moves Williams to joint-fourth in the all-time list of major winners, alongside Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
18 majors trumps six US Open titles, says Serena
Serena Williams believes clinching an 18th Grand Slam title is more significant than the sixth US Open she won on Sunday.
The world number one swept past close friend Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-3 in the final to go level with Chris Evert as a six-time champion in New York.
The win also took her level with Evert and Martina Navratilova with 18 majors.
Both legends even stumped up for a gold bracelet for the 32-year-old Williams bought from Tiffany in New York to mark the occasion with '18' engraved into it.
"Maybe the 18th was the most important because I was joining Chrissy and Martina. There was so much on the line between getting to number 18, which has been on my shoulder for so long and I finally got it," said a tearful Williams.
"I never thought that me, Serena Williams would be in that group. Who am I? I never thought you would mention my name with such greats and legends."
Williams won her first US Open in 1999 as a 17-year-old and added further triumphs in 2002, 2008, 2012 and 2013. But she had not won a major in 2014 before Sunday, failing to get beyond the fourth round at the Australian and French Opens as well as Wimbledon.
She came into the US Open winning two hard court warm-ups in Stanford and Cincinnati and finishing runner-up to sister Venus in Montreal.
"I was just think playing all those matches really helped get my confidence more than anything. I think I just needed that confidence and that calmness," she added.
"I think through this whole tournament I was really calm. I practiced so hard. Not just this week, but for like six months. I think it's now showing." Williams said that when she fell to the ground to mark her victory she was concerned that her celebrations may have been premature.
"When I went to match point, I thought there's no way I can lose now. I'm going to really fight for this point. Other than that I was really tight and nervous the whole match.
"I thought, this is over, right? Wait a minute, is it really over or am I celebrating too soon because I've been known to celebrate ahead of time and lose points because of that. I was glad it was over."
Former world number one Wozniacki is still without a Grand Slam title having now reached and lost two finals in New York -- she was just 19 when she lost to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 final.
"Serena, you deserve it. You played better than me today and you deserve to be the champion," Wozniacki said.
"You are an inspiration on the court and off it. You're an unbelievable champion and a great friend. The drinks are on you tonight."
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