Having won back-to-back Grand Slam titles for the first time since she completed a "Serena Slam," and with the injury setbacks of the past two years behind her, Serena Williams is talking about smashing some records.Williams outlasted world No1 Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to win her fourth US Open crown, becoming the tournament's second-oldest Open-era winner at age 30. With her 15th Grand Slam title, she is now just seven shy of Steffi Graf's all-time record.
"I feel so young and I've never felt as fit and more excited and more hungry," the American said. "Even with this win I'm sitting here so excited to play the next Grand Slam and see what I can do. I love that feeling."
Williams took her third Major title in as many months after Wimbledon in July and Olympic gold last month.
She won four major titles in a row - the "Serena Slam" - from the 2002 French Open through the 2003 Australian Open. And she said if she had not missed 10 Slams with injury, she might have won five more by now.
Now Graf's mark seems reachable.
"If I can play consistently and play some more matches at Wimbledon, it will be awesome," she said. "I want to create history."
Azarenka, 23, hailed Williams as the greatest player of all time and vowed to learn from her 10th defeat in 11 meetings with the American.
"For me, she's the greatest player of all time. She has taken the game to the next level," said the Belarusian, who was just 10 when Williams won her first Open title as a te
enager in 1999.Defending men's champion Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, defeated Spain's David Ferrer 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, setting up a title showdown this morning with Britain's Andy Murray.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
