NEW YORK CITY

Serena Williams is the undisputed queen of women’s tennis.

Now, the world No.1 would like to add another distinction: To win the most grand slam titles ever.

She took another step in that direction Sunday.

Serena easily dispatched Caroline Wozniacki, 6-3, 6-3, to win her third consecutive U.S. Open championship and her sixth since she first won the American grand slam tournament in 1999 when she was 17.

This win was Serena’s 18th grand slam victory.

That ties her with Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert for the third most grand slam titles ever.

The title came with a massive payday as Serena pocketed the $3 million winner’s purse plus a $1 million bonus for winning the U.S. Series.

The win also boosted her ambition of overtaking Steffi Graf’s record of 22 majors and Margaret Smith Court’s all-time mark of 24 grand slam titles.

At age 32, she’s already thinking about No. 19 and vowed not to get complacent.

“I have said this before,” she said. “I want to continue to rise and continue to play really hard and do the best that I can.”

Navratilova said the sky’s the limit for Serena in her pursuit of more grand slam titles, despite struggles this year with injuries and illness that knocked her out early from the other grand slams before her victory in the U.S. Open.

According to Navratilova, Serena is primed to play at a high level for several more years.

“And she’s really eager,” said Navratilova. “She’s seeing how working hard really pays off.”

Serena, who has a sideline as a fashion designer, was still in beads when she surprised the public and her own family when she won the 1999 U.S. Open against Martina Hingis.

“It is a pleasure to win my first Grand Slam here and No. 18,” said a teary Serena during the trophy ceremony in which Navratilova and Evert took part.

“I’m really emotional,” Serena added. “I couldn’t ask to do it at a better place.”

For much of the year it looked like she might remain stuck on 17 majors and go slamless for the first time since 2001.

She arrived in New York two weeks ago having failed to advance past the fourth round at the Australian and French Open and Wimbledon.

She is now 19-1 since Wimbledon, and didn’t drop a set in seven matches in New York.

She also won two tune-up tournaments before the U.S. Open. Coming into the U.S. Open, she wasn’t sure she would win, but she said she knew she would play well. “I just felt so good.”

And if she feels good, look out foes, she has more grand slam wins to come.