US Open 2014: Queen Serena finally wins 18th Grand Slam

Serena Williams made history on Sunday, by winning her 18th Grand Slam Singles Title. Her straight sets victory over good friend Caroline Wozniacki, sees her tie Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on joint 4th on the greatest champions list with 18 Majors. Her sixth US Open title also sees her go level with Chris Evert, for most US Open crowns in the open era. The World No.1 is now only 4 behind Steffi Graf’s open era record of 22 and 6 behind Margaret Court’s all-time haul of 24 Grand Slams.

 

US Open 2014: Day 14, WS The Final

Serena bt Wozniacki: 6-3, 6-3

At long last she’s done it. Serena Williams agonising wait for a record equalling 18th Grand Slam has finally come to an end. The World No.1 had been trying to get to the magic number all year, but underperformed at the seasons first 3 majors, falling to Ana Ivanovic, Garbine Muguruza and Alize Cornet.

But she came into the home Slam, as the out and out favourite even more so than in Melbourne, Paris or London. Serena since retiring in that bizarre doubles match at Wimbledon, had picked up titles in Stanford and Cincinnati, with her only loss being to big Sis Venus in the SFs of Montreal.

She’d swept all before her in the tournament, losing only a maximum of 3 games throughout her 6 matches. This was the American’s 4th consecutive US Open final and 7th overall. More importantly she was appearing in her 22nd Major Final, 15 years after triumphing in her first at the US Open in 1999.

The Great Dane Caroline Wozniacki meanwhile, was playing in her 2nd Grand Slam final, 5 years after her first which was also at the Open. Then as a 19 year old, Wozniacki lost to Belgian Kim Clijsters.

Coming into the final, the numbers didn’t look good for Caro. She was an alarming 8-1 against Serena and she had lost the pairs only previous GS meeting- SFs of the 2011 US Open. But Wozniacki had taken Serena to hell and back in their last 2 meetings at Montreal and Cinnci, 2 weeks before New York. On both occasions, Wozniacki won the first set and nearly won both matches.

However this was Serena’s yard, her home Major, her umpteenth GS Final and she was hungry to make history and sign off the 2014 season, with 1 Major at least.

Unlike in Canada and Cincinnati, Serena was the one who started the quickest out of the blocks.

She managed to save a BP in the first game and then went on break Wozniacki for an early 2-0 lead.

Strangely though, Serena then got broken in what was 4 successive breaks of serve for either player.

Williams then restored order by holding serve to go up 4-2. Wozniacki tried to get back into the match, but it was too much for the nervous Dane as Serena broke again to eventually close out the opener 6-3.

‘Re, Re’ was again the quickest at the start of the 2nd, breaking Caro immediately for 2-0. That early break proved to be nail in the coffin for Wozniacki as Serena soon got to 5-3.

Yu know what’s coming next right? Well Serena broke Carline’s serve one final time and fell to the floor feeling emotional and relieved that the monkey was finally off her back.

What Serena’s 18th Grand Slam Crown means:

• Williams wins her 18th Slam, tying Chrissie and Martina on joint 4th all time and joint 2nd in the Open Era.
• She now only trails: Helen Wills Moody on (19), Steffi Graf (22, most in Open Era) and Margaret Court (24, most all time)
• 6th US Open title, equalling mark of Chris Evert for most won by a women in Open Era. Trails only Richard Sears, Bill Larned and Bill Tilden (all on 7) and Molla Bjurstedt Mallory. (who won 8)
• 3rd consecutive title. 2nd ever woman in Open era to achieve the feat after Chris Evert won 4 in a row from 1975-78.
• 3rd Crown won without dropping a set, again equalling record of Evert’s. Serena also won the 2002 and 2008 titles without losing a single set.
• Her 5th Major title won without a set lost. 2nd only to Martina Navratilova’s 6.
• As he won the US Open Series for the 2nd successive year and 3rd time overall, she takes home a record $4 million, in what is the largest paycheck (man or woman) in tennis history. ($3million for winning the title and $1million bonus for clinching the US Open series.
• Pushes career earnings past $60 million mark. Most for any female player and female athlete in Women’s sports history. Only trails Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in career prize money.
• Wins a Grand Slam 3 years on the trot for the very first time in her career.
• Becomes the first player since Justine Henin did so at Roland Garros (2005-07), to 3 peat at a Major.
• Becomes the first ever player to win the US Open series and US Open in same season twice and first two achieve it back to back.
• Finally, she is now in stand-alone first place for most Grand Slam Singles Titles amongst active players, men or women.

Women’s Doubles Final: Day 13, Saturday

Makarova/Vesnina (RUS) bt Hingis/Pennetta (SUI/ITA): 2-6, 6-3, 6-2

*This was the Russian pairing’s 2nd GS Doubles title, after winning their maiden one at Roland Garros 2013. Swiss Miss Martina Hingis was going for her 10th Doubles major and first since winning the Australian Open in 2002, with Anna Kournikova.