Serena claims No. 1 spot along with US Open trophy

Serena Williams was fired up during the US Open fortnight, and that was what made her the US Open champion and gave her the No. 1 spot.

Jelena Jankovic was the one who fought for the No. 1 spot against Serena, but she eventually lost the opportunities she had throughout the match, and received just a runner-up plate for her efforts after losing 64 75.

"I don't even remember match point. I just remember I won and that I was so excited. I knew that I just had to go for it," an elated Williams told reporters. "I'm so excited, I can't even describe it. Usually after a Grand Slam I feel like I still have another match to play, but I don't really feel that way today. I feel like it's done and it's all over, and I'm so excited. I think it showed on the court."

"I went out there like it was another final, and I just tried to play my best tennis," Jankovic said. "We had some great points. It was some really entertaining tennis out there. And I had a lot of chances, especially in the second set, but I just didn't do the right things. She was the better one tonight."

Serena is just the sixth woman to win nine or more Grand Slam titles, along with Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.

"This is cool, because I'm at No.9. I'm knocking at the door of double digits," Williams said. "I have the game to do it. I obviously play well in Australia, and that's coming up soon, so maybe there. I have to win another French Open and I love Wimbledon. I love winning Grand Slams, so I look forward to it."

"I had a great two weeks," Jankovic said. "I fought really hard out there in every match, and tonight I gave everything I had. It was all a great learning experience for me. I really love the atmosphere here - the crowd, the city... it has so much energy and it suits my personality quite well."

"I've been working so hard all year. Sometimes I wake up at 6am to go and practice and it's too dark, and I wait until it gets light. No one really, really knows the work an athlete puts in. But it's all worth it. It's all paying off. I'd feel like gosh, I've been working the hardest, so I should win."