Serena Williams allowed herself a moment to savour a third straight US Open win on Sunday, but only for a moment.
Just three hours after securing her 18th grand slam title with a dominating 6-3, 6-3 win over Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, the world number one soaked up the accolades and applause and then admitted that she was already thinking about number 19 and third spot on the all-time list currently held by Helen Wills Moody.
"I am thinking 19," said Serena, who shares fourth on the list with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. "Hasn't even been three hours and I have already mentioned 19. Oh, gosh, but not 22. "I'm taking it one at a time."
Serena will celebrate her 33rd birthday later this month and clearly has plans to celebrate many more grand slam titles as she climbs further-and-further up the rankings.
Moody, at number 19, is the next target but just ahead sits Steffi Graf on 22 and further above is the great Margaret Court, who tops the list with 24.
Braving the odds
Until Sunday, it did not look as if Serena would add to her grand slam haul this season. She had added five tournament titles to her collection this season, coming into the US Open with her career total at 62, but at the grand slams she had fallen flat, failing to get beyond the last 16 in any of the first three majors.
However, if there was any thought that Serena’s career was on the decline she erased it with a stunningly ruthless performance, confirming herself as the Queen of Flushing Meadows.
In claiming her sixth US Open and third straight, Serena did not drop a set and never lost more than three games in any of them.
"I just could never have imagined that I would be mentioned with Evert or with Navratilova, because I was just a kid with a dream and a racquet," offered a humble Serena. "Living in Compton, this never happened before."
Serena's rise from the Los Angeles ghetto to top of her sport is a tennis fairytale and despite describing herself as a ‘simple’ woman, those who have faced her on the court understand that she is something quite exceptional.
"I don't believe that talent can beat everything," said Wozniacki. "She works hard every day, just like us, but when she needs to she can pull out that big serve. She has the power.
"She can push us back on the court and take the initiative. She definitely has the experience now, and it makes it even harder to beat her.
"I think her results and her career says it all: 18 grand slam titles. You don't get that unless you're exceptional in what you do."
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2014.
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