Serena Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets to win her sixth US Open and 18th Grand Slam title. The American, ranked one in the world, won 6-3 6-3 at Flushing Meadows in New York.
After a poor start from both players, Williams steadied herself to take the first set and found
something approaching her best form to dominate the second. The victory moves her to joint-fourth in the all-time list of major winners, alongside Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
something approaching her best form to dominate the second. The victory moves her to joint-fourth in the all-time list of major winners, alongside Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
After collapsing on the court in delight and trying, and failing, to suppress her emotion, she was presented by the two legends with an eighteen carat gold bracelet from Tiffany's marking the achievement. Next stop is the total of 22 Slam titles won by Steffi Graf.
In addition to the jewellery she received a cheque for $4 million (£2.41 million), comprising of her tournament winnings and a bonus for being the dominant player in the recent American events. It was the biggest single prize in tennis history. This was a far cry from her Wimbledon departure, when a 'viral illness' saw her having to default from the doubles after losing all co-ordination.
She felt the key to recovery was the way she was able to re-dedicate herself after that by playing a heavy schedule leading in here: 'I think playing in all those tournaments really helped me, it gave me the calmness I needed as well,' she said.
'I practised so hard, in fact I've been practising hard for six months and that has really showed today. I was really tight and nervous, getting to eighteen has been on my shoulders for a long time. That probably weighed more than winning a sixth US Open. I never thought my name would be up with those legends, that's why I'm quite emotional.'
Wozniacki could not rouse herself to end this highly testing personal summer on a triumphant note, unable to match the firepower of her opponent, who successfully put their friendship to one side. That was always going to be the case as these two have been trained from so young to be ruthless on court, so no quarter was given in an ultimately disappointing contest.
'You're an unbelievable friend and you owe me drinks later,' said Wozniacki afterwards, in a nice touch of old school. In truth perhaps their relationship may have marred the quality of the encounter, rather in the way many Serena versus Venus matches have also been flat.
Photo Credit: AP / Getty Images
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