World women's tennis number one Serena Williams swept past good friend Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-3 6-3 in the U.S. Open final in New York to move into the record books with her 18th grand slam title.
Serena Williams embraces the trophy. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It was the third straight and sixth U.S. Open crown for the 32-year-old American.
Williams 18 career slams putting her into a tie with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for fourth place on the all-time list behind Australia's record holder Margaret Smith Court, who won 24 grand slam singles titles, Steffi Graf (22) and Helen Wills Moody (19).
In addition to the grand slam spoils, the triumph earned Williams the biggest cheque in tennis history - a whopping 4.8 million dollars, including a US one million bonus for also winning the US Open summer series.
Navratilova and Evert also presented Williams with an 18-carat gold Tiffany bracelet after welcoming their countrywoman into one of the most exclusive clubs in tennis.
Having failed to get beyond the last 16 of the year's first three slams, Williams sailed through the U.S. Open without dropping a set, finishing off Wozniacki in 75 minutes.
For the 10th seeded Wozniacki, back in a grand slam final for the first time in five years, it was another frustrating end to a promising fortnight as she once again left Flushing Meadows empty handed, a major title still beyond her grasp
Williams says it's a pleasure to win her first grand slam here and her 18th..... adding she couldn't think of a better place to do it.
After topping the rankings for 67 weeks in 2010 and 2011, the Wozniacki retains the tag as the the best player without a grand slam title.
