Champion Serena in a class all her own

Serena Williams is enjoying the moment rather than chasing history, but winning a fifth US Open on Sunday just 18 days before turning 32 has given her some age-defying and record-rivalling Grand Slam ideas.

World number one Williams defeated second-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 7-5, 6-7 (6/8), 6-1 to defend her title and win her 17th career Grand Slam crown, as many as men’s record-holder Roger Federer has collected.

Williams remains seven shy of Margaret Court’s all-time major record of 24 titles and five adrift of Steffi Graf’s Open-Era mark of 22, but a fourth major title after turning 30 has made her think about collecting many, many more.

Williams, who won her first Grand Slam at the US Open in 1999 at age 17, has also won five Wimbledon and Australian Open titles as well as taking her second French Open crown earlier this year.

By winning the rematch of last year’s final, Williams became the first top seeded US Open champion since Justine Henin in 2007 and the first woman to defend the crown successfully since Kim Clijsters in 2010.

It was the 55th career title for Williams and her ninth of the year, a one-season personal best. She took home $3.6 million in prize money and bonuses to give her more than $9 million this year and more than $50 million lifetime.

That endears her to another US government figure—Uncle Sam, the fictional character who is sometimes used to symbolise America’s tax man.

“Someone told me today I passed 50 (million), but half of that goes to my Uncle Sam. I love him. I’m always giving him half my money,” she said.

Her sense of humour, like her serve, can be devastating.

Life begins at 40 for Paes

Singles champions hog most of the limelight in tennis, but sometimes you just can’t ignore the dedicated band of doubles specialists who just keep slugging it away with the kind of contagious enthusiasm that can put even diehard cynics to shame.

The American Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, with their near invincible run over the past decade, are undoubtedly the kings of doubles, but spare a thought or two for the indomitable Leander Paes of India.

In the company of Radek Stepanek, Paes, at 40, became the oldest grand slam doubles champion in the Open era when they defeated Alexander Peya of Austria and Brazil’s Bruno Soares in the final of the US Open on Sunday.

Their win was no fluke considering the fact that had accounted for the Bryans in the semi-finals. Paes, who started playing Davis Cup for India when he was 16 and had been a great servant of the sport, is close to completing 25 years as a professional.

The Indian has eight doubles titles and six mixed doubles crowns in grand slams. That makes it a whopping 14 grand slam titles. And we are not even mentioning the non-slam titles he has picked up on the way.

In a country where people are beginning to tire of even the great Sachin Tendulkar, Paes has fired up his fans’ imagination by suggesting he will continue to play on for a few more years. Nobody will be calling for his retirement.