Serena Williams said she had felt the pressure of chasing an 18th Grand Slam title until Sunday’s US Open victory.

The American beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-3 to join Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert on 18 major titles.

Williams, 32, admitted it had been on her mind all year, and was the first thing she thought of upon victory.

“It was definitely the number 18,” she said. “I’ve been trying to reach it for so long. I didn’t really think I would get there. I just felt so good.”

“It means a lot to me,” said the world number one.

“I just could never have imagined that I would be mentioned with Chris Evert or with Martina Navratilova, because I was just a kid with a dream and a racquet.

“Living in Compton, this never happened before.”

It was Williams’s sixth US Open and 18th Grand Slam title, but her first in a year that, before New York, had seen her fail to get past the fourth round at any of the other majors.

“I definitely did not think I was going to win a Slam this year,” she added. “And I even said, ‘I’m ready to start next year already. Let’s put this behind me.’

“I’m grateful to win a Grand Slam this year. It feels really good.”

Williams has now won six US Open, five Wimbledon, five Australian Open and two French Open titles over the course of 15 years – a record span of years between winning Grand Slams.

Both Navratilova and Evert won their 18 titles over the course of 12 years, and Williams’s longevity is something that John McEnroe, a four-time US Open winner, believes makes her the best ever.

“She won her first US Open at 17, she’s about to turn 33 – that’s a pretty good run she’s got going there,” said the American on CBS TV coverage.

“It’s pretty hard to argue with the fact that if she’s playing the way she’s capable of playing, she’s the greatest female player of all time.

“How intimidating she is, with the power, she’s got everything.”

“I think when Serena’s on her game, there’s not much we can do,” said the Dane. “She works hard every day, just like us, but when she needs to she can pull out that big serve.

“She has the power. She can push us back on the court and take the initiative.”

Williams planned to meet up with Wozniacki after the final, saying “we’re gonna hang out later tonight, I definitely will buy the drinks,” but she is already focused on winning a 19th Grand Slam title.

Overtaking Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22 singles titles is not in her plans yet, however.

“I am thinking about 19, which I’m kind of disappointed about,” she said.

“It hasn’t even been three hours and I have already mentioned 19. But not 22. I’m taking it one at a time.”

Top women’s Grand Slam singles titles winners

24- Margaret Court (Aus)

22- Steffi Graf (Ger)

19- Helen Wills Moody (US)

18- Martina Navratilova (US), Chris Evert (US), Serena Williams (US)

12- Billie Jean King (US)

AFP