Serena Williams hails Tiger Woods’ influence as she continues her US Open run
Serena Williams was on course to do what no woman has done in 16 years at the US Open until the final match.
She was on course to set a new Open record with a 6-0 victory over Caroline Wozniacki.
But she could only manage 8-6, and lost 6-2 in a match she should have won, with the result leaving American tennis greats Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport to finish joint runners-up, as they also did in the 2016 event.
Williams was in a class of her own and had won all 10 matches before losing to Wozniacki in the final.
But the Australian suffered with an ankle injury that kept her out of the first four rounds.
“To lose to her on that level was extremely disappointing,” Williams said of Wozniacki. “But I don’t think I had a chance to win the match.”
“I don’t think I can win it every time I come out here. I think I can do it out of match,” she added.
Williams’ triumph came at a time when the US Open was at the peak of the competition.
She had been the first woman to defend the Open crown since Steffi Graf in 1999.
She had also won the Women’s Singles title in 2012 and defended the title in 2014.
Wozniacki, who was runner-up here in 2014, was hoping to win her third US Open title on grass.
Williams beat a fellow world number one for the first time since 2014 to win the title.
Tiger Woods’ stunning victory over Phil Mickelson at the US Open
It had been a long wait for Williams to win her first US Open at Flushing Meadows.
With her victory she became the first player to wear a different coloured tennis racket in the finals.
Williams won her first five matches against Maria Sharapova, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, and Caroline Wozniacki.
“I don’t think I can win every time I come out here. I think I can do it out of match,” she added.
“I think I’m able to do this on the biggest stages on grass and the bigger surfaces.