World number one Serena Williams powered past Caroline Wozniacki to secure her 18th Grand Slam singles title on Sunday and is now tied with Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert with the second-most number of Slam titles in the Open Era. Final score was 6-3, 6-3. Williams posted 29 winners and 23 unforced errors while Wozniacki only had 4 winners and 15 unforced errors.
Wozniacki was gracious in defeat and gave her good friend Williams a warm hug after the match.
“First of all, congratulations to Serena, you really deserved it today,” Wozniacki said during trophy ceremony. “You’re an unbelievable champion and an inspiration to me on and off the court.
“I would also like to thank the crowd for being so amazing these two weeks. You guys have been supporting me through everything, and it wouldn’t be the same without you. Thanks to all of you.”
Williams said afterwards: “I’d like to say congratulations to Caroline. She knows the struggles I’ve been through – we text almost every day. Caroline I know you’re going to win one very soon, maybe even in Australia, so I’ve got to go home and get ready for you there!”
“It’s a pleasure for me to win No.18 here,” she said, fighting back tears. “I couldn’t ask to do it at a better place.”
The US Open victory means Williams is now tied with Evert with the most titles in New York with six and this is her third consecutive US Open victory. Evert was able to win four titles in a row from 1975 to 78.
Williams also secured a record-setting $4 million in prize money, the biggest payout in tennis history (male or female). She tied with Rafael Nadal last season at $3.6 million but she’s raised the bar this year after wining both the US Open Series and the US Open which gave her a $1 million bonus on top of the $3 million prize money.
