Serena Williams has crushed Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets to become the first woman in almost 40 years to complete a US Open title hat-trick.
The world No.1 blasted 29 winners in her 6-3 6-3 victory to land her sixth Open crown and draw level with fellow American greats Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert on the all-time grand slam leader board.
Williams’ 18 majors elevates the 32-year-old to equal fourth place behind Australia’s record holder Margaret Smith Court, who won 24 grand slam singles titles, Steffi Graf (22) and Helen Wills Moody (19).
After failing to progress beyond the last 16 at the season’s first three grand slam events in Melbourne, Paris and London, Williams was on a mission on Sunday.
So dominant was she that Wozniacki could only manage four winners against the single-minded top seed.
Australian teenage tennis ace Omar Jasika has scored a mighty comeback win to complete a rare and spectacular US Open double in New York.
Jasika roared back from the dead to upset French fifth seed Quentin Halys 2-6 7-5 6-1 to become the first player in 28 years to win both the boys’ singles and doubles crowns at Flushing Meadows.
The 17-year-old from Melbourne joined countrymen Pat Cash (1982) and Bernard Tomic (2009) along with US Open men’s champions Stefan Edberg (1983), Andy Roddick (2000) and Andy Murray (2004) on the junior singles honour roll.
“It hasn’t really kicked in yet, but it feels unbelievable, like very honoured to be on one of the lists,” Jasika said.
“Yeah, just happy, very happy.”
Basketball World Cup
The Boomers have suffered a heart-breaking one-point loss to Turkey to crash out of the basketball World Cup in Barcelona.
The Australian team, which was hoping to win a first-ever medal, led for most of the match but will rue Cameron Bairstow running foul of the clock shot with just 22 seconds left when leading 64-62.
Turkey’s Emir Preldzic then calmly ran down the clock at the other end of the court before downing a three-pointer over Bairstow to steal the match 65-64.
The Australians looked on in disbelief as the Turks celebrated.
The Boomers had lost to Angola in their last group match meaning they could avoid playing the United States until the semi-finals.
But such a scenario became irrelevant after Turkey delivered yet another come-from-behind thriller.
Golf
Five Australians remain on track for the season-ending Tour Championship despite failing to contend in the final round of the BMW Championship.
The event was won by USA’s Billy Horschel at 14 under, two shots clear of compatriot Bubba Watson.
World No.2 Adam Scott, injured Jason Day and John Senden have secured a place to Atlanta next week for a shot at the $US10 million FedEx Cup bonus while Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby are also through.
Emerging golf superstar Minjee Lee has turned professional a day after leading Australia to a sensational comeback victory in the women’s world amateur team championship.
Eighteen-year-old world No.1 amateur Lee announced on Sunday she will tee up as a pro for the first time in the year’s final women’s major, the Evian Championship, in France this week.
Lee made the announcement in a light-hearted video with Fremantle Dockers club captain Matthew Pavlich – a ploy borrowed from New Zealand teenage ace Lydia Ko who made a video announcement with All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg when she turned pro earlier this year.
There was little left for Lee to achieve in amateur ranks after she shot a seven-under-par 65 and teammate Su Oh a 66 as Australia came from seven shots back to win the world teams title by two strokes from Canada in Japan on Saturday.
The seven-shot comeback broke the tournament record of three set by Australia in 2002 in Malaysia. Australia also won the biennial event in 1978.
“I wanted to make this something to remember,” said Lee.
“I wanted this to be a priceless experience for everyone.”
