US Open Women's Singles Final: Serena wins 18th Grand Slam title

World number one Serena Williams swept past good friend Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-3 6-3 in the U.S. Open final on Sunday to move into the record books with her 18th grand slam title.

It was the third straight and sixth U.S. Open crown for the 32-year-old American, her 18 career slams putting her into a tie with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for fourth place on the all-time list.

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 a snappy 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.

SECOND SET: SERENA WILLIAMS 6 CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 3

Wozniacki is fighting till the last bit. But she has not been able to match Serena's brilliance. The American is making her run all over the court as she earns a double matchpoint. Wozniacki hits it long outside the line as Serena celebrates. Wozniacki 3 Serena 6 

Wozniacki is determined not to let the match slip out of her hands easily. Amazing forehand shots as she manages to level at 30-all. Serena gets a powerful serve and a classy winner to hold serve. Wozniacki 3 Serena 5 

Brilliant serves from Wozinacki as she wins four straight points to hold her serve. This game will be crucial for her and break Serena. Wozniacki 3 Serena 4 

Another easy game for Serena as she heads to a grand finish keeping the break intact. Wozniacki will have to come up with something special if she has to dream of her first grand slam title. Wozniacki 2 Serena 4 

Wozniacki looks to be getting into the groove as she serves well to take a 40-15 lead and then follows it up with a brilliant serve to keep the serve. Wozniacki 2 Serena 3 

Easy one for Serena as she drops just a point en route to winning her serve. Wozniacki 1 Serena 3 

Top class tennis from Serena as Wozniacki looks to be struggling. Wozniacki still manages to lead 30-15 and then 40-30. But a brilliant crosscourt winner from the American takes the game to deuce. A long battle prevails before Wozniacki wins her serve. Wozniacki 1 Serena 2 

That's an easy game for Serena as Wozniacki continues to commit too many unforced errors. Serena does not lose a point as she keeps the serve. Wozniacki 0 Serena 2 

BREAK! Serena gets going immediately as she earns a double breakpoint. A lovely forehand to the corner meant Wozniacki finds the net. Wozniacki 0 Serena 1 

FIRST SET: SERENA WILLIAMS 6 CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 3

Wozniacki fight hard but Serena's top serves including an ace meant she wins the first set. Serena 6 Wozniacki 3

Wozniacki looks erratic as the game heads to deuce. She continues to err to help Serena earn a breakpoint. Ensuring no further damage, Wozniacki disciplines herself to claim the next three points to hold her serve. Serena serves for the first set. Serena 5 Wozniacki 3

This time Serena is determined to take it a step further as she leads 40-15 and then seals it immediately. The American is just one game away from the first set. Serena 5 Wozniacki 2

BREAK! It's been a game of breaks as Williams earns again a double breakpoint before Wozniacki manages to wipe one. Wozniacki's shot lands in the net as Serena wins it. Serena 4 Wozniacki 2

BREAK! Wozniacki is not letting the match slip out of her hands as she dominates with a triple breakpoint advantage. Serena saves one with a brilliant ace, but commits a double fault to again ensure a break for Wozniacki. Serena 3 Wozniacki 2

BREAK! Serena desperate for the break again makes a strong start racing to 0-30. Wozniacki responds quickly to win the next three points before the American pushes it to deuce. Serena wins a breakpoint on two occasions and is successful to break again. Serena 3 Wozniacki 1

BREAK! Some powerful serves combined with great forehand shots ensures Serena leads 30-15 before Wozniacki fights hard to earn two points to force a breakpoint. Wozniacki wins it after Serena hits it wide. Serena 2 Wozniacki 1

BREAK! Wozniacki allows Serena to surge ahead to 15-30 and then 30-40 thanks to a couple of double faults. The Danish girl manages to save it but two unforced errors from her meant Serena wins her first break. Serena 2 Wozniacki 0

Wozniacki sets the ball rolling right away earning a breakpoint but Serena is quick to foil her plans as she holds serve winning three straight points. Serena 1 Wozniacki 0

PREVIEW

Good friends Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki will get together again on Sunday, but the US Open final won't be another day at the beach.

There's just too much on the line for both players to let affection get in the way.

"She's a fun girl, fun to be around," said Wozniacki, who vacationed with Williams in Miami this year after both endured early French Open exits.

"She always makes me laugh and makes everyone around her laugh," she said, but adds: "I'm on court to win, and it doesn't matter who's on the other side."

The two friends had been eyeing the possibility of a title showdown ever since they were drawn in opposite halves.

"We were saying when the tournament started, 'We're in separate sides of the draw, so hopefully we can meet in the finals. It would be great if that were to happen.'"

Now that it has, the buddies will battle for a title that has vital - if different - significance for each.

Williams won her 17th Grand Slam title at the US Open last year.

Her pursuit of an 18th - to match Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the all-time list behind the record 22 of Steffi Graf - has since been stalled.

Williams is trying to match Evert as the only woman in the Open era to win at least three straight US titles, and to equal Evert's record of six titles overall.

Wozniacki, meanwhile, is trying to win her first major title, something she couldn't do even as she reached the top of the world rankings in 2010 and 2011.

"We obviously have two very different motivations. We both have a lot to go for," said Wozniacki, who was 19 when she fell to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 US Open final.

Rather than becoming a perennial contender, she hadn't made it back to a Grand Slam final until this week.

"She obviously wants to win and go for her first Grand Slam, and I want to win and try to make a little history," said Williams, who goes into the match a prohibitive favourite.

She has won eight of their nine meetings - including two three-set triumphs in US Open tune-up events in Montreal and Cincinnati.

But the tenacious Dane is undaunted.

"I always believe in myself when I go out to play," Wozniacki said.

"I definitely believe that no matter who stands on the other side of the net I can win the match."

While Wozniacki is well aware of the challenge Williams poses, she is encouraged by their last two encounters.

"When she's on fire, she's hard to beat," Wozniacki said. "But I have had two tough matches against her the last few weeks. I was really close. Hopefully for me that would be third time's the charm.

"It's going to be exciting."

Williams is expecting another close match.

"She knows my game well and she knows how to play," Williams said. "She's so consistent, that's one of the things that makes her really tough."

Williams, who hasn't dropped a set en route to the final, says taking on so familiar a foe won't dull her edge. She's had practice taking on her sister Venus.

"If I can play Venus, I can play anybody," she said. "I grew up with Venus."

The key in the face of Wozniacki's persistence, Williams said, "Just stay calm, just be able to relax and be happy."

Wozniacki - who toppled five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova in the fourth round - believes she'll benefit from the experience of her first US Open final.

"I didn't know what to expect from my nerves," she said of that match against Clijsters. "She had been out there before. So this time it's going to be different.

"I have definitely learned a lot in those years. I have learned more about myself," said Wozniacki, who has come on strong this season since the painful and public end of her engagement to star golfer Rory McIlroy.

"It would mean so much to me," added Wozniacki, although she denied that she needs a Grand Slam win to validate her career.

"I think I've proven myself," she said. "Most of all I've proven to myself I'm a great player. Being number one in the world - I think I'm validated enough."

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