Serena Williams wins 2012 U.S. Open for fourth title

Serena Williams wins 2012 U.S. Open for fourth title

By D. Henry

      NEW YORK, N.Y.  — Once again, Serena Williams turned the conventional wisdom upside down as she won her fourth U.S. Open and 15th Grand Slam title in the best women’s final since who knows when (for the record, it was the first one that went three sets in 17 years). Williams has won four Olympic gold medals, one in women’s singles and three in women’s doubles.

      On Aug. 4, 2012, she became the second player after Steffi Graf to win a career Golden Grand Slam after winning the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in Wimble-don, and the first player in history, male or female, to win the Golden Grand Slam in both singles and doubles.

     Already regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, her 30 Grand Slam titles places her ninth on the all-time list; 15 in singles, 13 in women’s doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles.

      She is the most recent player, male or female, to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously (’02-’03) and only the fifth woman ever to do so. Her total of 15 Grand Slam singles titles is sixth on the all-time list, and fourth in the open era, behind Steffi Graf (22 titles) and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (18 titles each).

     Among active players, male or female, she holds the most major titles among singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

     She won her 13 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister Venus Williams and the pair is unbeaten in Grand Slam finals. Serena Williams is also a two time winner of the WTA Tour Championships.

     She is the only female player to have won over $40 million in prize money.