World number one Serena Williams won the US Open Series for the second time in her career. The American became the only female tennis player to have achieved this feat, winning it for the first time in 2011.
Williams secured the win after winning her semifinal match at the Western & Southern Open on Saturday. With her win at the Rogers Cup, she accumulated 170 points which could no longer be surpassed by any player in the roster even if the New Haven Open, the final tournament in the US Open Series, has yet to be contested.
“It’s exciting because no matter what happens tomorrow, I’ve won something,” Williams said on Saturday. “And also it’s always exciting to win the US Open Series, especially being from America and playing all of the tournaments in the USA, especially tonight. There was so much support. It was almost overwhelming, but it was just really cool. I haven’t really felt that a lot. So it definitely feels really, really good.”
Williams would eventually lose the title in a tight three setter against world number two Victoria Azarenka.
By winning the US Open Series, Williams will have a chance to win an additional $1 million if she wins the US Open title. The winner’s check for this year’s US Open is $2.6 million and should she successfully defend the hardcourt Slam title, she will get home with $3.6 million. A runner-up showing will see her getting $500,000 in bonus money, $250,000 for semifinal finish and $125,000 for quarterfinal run.
