Williams the one to beat despite fourth seeding

AFTER an almost embarrassingly dominant few weeks in London this summer, Serena Williams is happy to embrace her status as the hot favourite to lift the US Open title.

The American went into Wimbledon without a grand slam crown in two years and having lost in the first round of the French Open, but she swept to her fifth title at the All England Club.

Three weeks later she returned to SW19 for the Olympics and lost only 17 games in six matches to win her first singles gold medal. Her 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Maria Sharapova in the final proved she is fourth seed in name only in New York. Everyone knows Serena is the one to beat.

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The 30-year-old, who simply has too much power for her opponents when she is on form, is confident of adding to her title haul and said: “I don’t feel pressure. My dad said the only pressure you have is the pressure you put on yourself. If I win, that would be great. If I lose, I realise I’m going to go home and be devastated. But there’s always tomorrow.”

Williams is hoping to go one better than at Flushing Meadows last year, when she surprisingly lost in the final to Sam Stosur.

Victory here would give the American her 15th grand slam singles title, still seven behind Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22, but Kim Clijsters nevertheless puts Serena at the top of the tree.

Clijsters, who will retire after the US Open, said: “To me Serena is the best ever because physically she just stands out. What we have seen over the last few months is the best player ever.”