Serena Williams hails Tiger Woods’ influence as she continues her US Open run as the sport’s favourite daughter.
Serena Williams has been named the US Women’s Open champion after her 7-5 6-3 victory over compatriot Caroline Wozniacki on Saturday.
The victory came less than two days after Woods – the seven-time major winner whose second US Open title brought his tournament total to four – won the PGA Championship.
Williams admitted she was “amazed” by the feat after the final, but believes she was in the best shape of her life for the biggest victory since winning the title on her 40th birthday in January.
Williams: “It feels amazing. I’m a little bit surprised but you know, I’m really proud to be wearing the US Open trophy.”
It was a dramatic week for Williams, who saw off the challenge of Maria Sharapova in the French Open to win her second Grand Slam crown and move up to third in the all-time tennis rankings.
Williams was on course to become the first woman since Steffi Graf to win three grand slams in the same calendar year, but a third-round defeat to Sloane Stephens at Flushing Meadows put paid to that dream.
Williams and Graf competed in three Grand Slam finals at the same time, but Williams’ record-breaking run ended on Thursday, when she conceded a controversial 6-4 2-6 7-5 defeat to Graf in the Wimbledon final.
After seeing off Sharapova at Roland Garros, she took a 2-0 lead at the US Open against Wozniacki, who in her quarter-final match was denied a break by a Williams rally in which the American held an ace.
The first set was all Wozniacki, but Williams rallied to take the second.
“I think, throughout the tournament, it was one of my best matches of the year so far,” said Williams. “I tried to approach it the same each time
