Serena Williams joins Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert with her 18th title
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Version 0 of 1. Two of the greatest players in tennis history welcomed another into their hallowed club Sunday. After Serena Williams won the 18th Grand Slam singles title of her career, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who also have 18 each, greeted her. Williams, who turns 33 in late September, is the oldest woman to win the title in the Open era; it is her third straight U.S. Open title and sixth overall. With a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Caroline Wozniacki, Williams matched Evert’s total of six championships at the U.S. Open and became the first woman to win three in a row since Evert won four from 1975-78. She also raked in the cash, winning a tennis-record $4 million ($3 million for the win plus a $1 million bonus for having the best results on the North American summer hard-court circuit). Williams has been dominant throughout most of her career, but she hadn’t won a Slam title in a year and she admitted that she felt pressure. “It’s almost a joke for me because I have done little to no winning in the majors [this year],” she said late last week. “So I thought, take it as a joke: ‘Oh, my God, I’m past the fourth round. Woo! … I better play doubles just in case I don’t make it past the second round. At least I have a backup plan.’ And I think that definitely has been able to help me to relax as well. “I tend to get a little stressed out.” Exclusive company: The 18 Majors Club. @Martina, @serenawilliams and @ChrissieEvert pic.twitter.com/L7cQYbJt81 — ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) September 7, 2014 Exclusive company: The 18 Majors Club. @Martina, @serenawilliams and @ChrissieEvert pic.twitter.com/L7cQYbJt81 — ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) September 7, 2014 Serena Williams. Dominant. #bbctennis pic.twitter.com/816n9CLAKw — BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) September 7, 2014 Serena Williams. Dominant. #bbctennis pic.twitter.com/816n9CLAKw — BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) September 7, 2014 Now that she’s tied Navratilova and Evert, how much farther can she go, with 33 looming? In the Open era of tennis, Steffi Graf holds the record with 22 titles. All time — i.e., pre-Open era — Margaret Court is the leader with 24 titles; Graf is at 22; and Helen Wills Moody is at 19. |