NEW YORK: Top-ranked Serena Williams played down the history at stake for her in this year's US Open but admitted Thursday that she is on the verge of realizing her childhood dream.
The 34-year-old American tries to complete the first calendar-year singles Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 by winning the US Open, seeking her fourth trophy in a row on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts and her fourth major title of the year after Wimbledon and the French and Australian Opens -- just like she imagined in her youth.
"My dream was the win the US Open and to win the Grand Slam," Williams said. "It was just a dream. I never thought I would be close to doing something like that."
Williams is an overwhelming favorite to collect her 22nd career Grand Slam title, which would match Graf's Open Era (since 1968) record and move her two shy of the all-time record of 24 Slam singles titles won by Australian Margaret Court.
"There's always another record or another person to catch up with or pass," Williams said.
"I never thought I would be in this position, talking about catching Steffi Graf or to be mentioned with Margaret Court. I just wanted to try to do the best I could. I just wanted to compete and keep going."
The six-time US and Australian Open and Wimbledon champion and three-time French Open winner says she does not see herself as the greatest player ever, saying comparisons over such different eras are tricky at best.
"I'm the greatest player I've been able to be," Williams said.
"I do see the numbers. I do believe in those numbers. Different times have different champions. It's really difficult to compare one generation to another. Things change -- power, technique, technology."
Williams claims that after completing her second career "Serena Slam" of winning four major titles in a row last month at Wimbledon, she doesn't feel much pressure.
"Maybe if I go along a few rounds into the tournament I'll start to feel it," Williams said. "As far as now I really don't feel it.
"I don't have much at stake. I look at it as an opportunity to win and defend my title. That's all I want to do."
Williams shrugged off talk of records for most of Wimbledon but the tension was there as she battled time and again into the third set but came out a winner each time.
"Wimbledon gave me unbelievable practice for this," Williams said.
"Going for the Serena Slam, that was a pretty rare thing too."
Williams says the reason for her success at an age when most players are fading comes in part from working with coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
"Just more consistency," Williams said. "Working with Patrick a lot has helped me achieve that consistency, has helped me be a better competitor in every single match."
Williams hasn't missed a US Open since 2010, a year after she threatened a lineswoman over a foot fault call and learned a valuable lesson.
"I've just learned things don't go well for you all the time," she said. "It's about how you recover after that."
Williams has won eight of her past 13 Grand Slam starts and shows no signs of slowing at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she won her first Slam crown at age 17 in 1999 and where she is adored by crowds.
"It's great support. The atmosphere is fun," she said. "It's the biggest stage in tennis."
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