( CNN ) -- Serena Williams is without peer in the modern women 's game and now she is on a par with two American tennis legends from the past . The world No . 1 clinched her third straight U.S. Open title at Flushing Meadows on Sunday and in doing so sealed an 18th career grand slam singles title , equaling the feats of both Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova , who became a naturalized American citizen in 1975 after defecting from Czechoslovakia . It may have been a case of when and not if Williams would reach the totals amassed by her feted compatriots in the 1970s and 1980s , but the 32-year-old is still finding the achievement hard to comprehend . `` `` I do n't know . It just does n't seem right -- Chrissie , Martina , Serena , it 's like oh my goodness ! '' Williams told CNN 's Rachel Nichols following her 6-3 6-3 win over Denmark 's Caroline Wozniacki . `` It feels great because you hear these names growing up ... you do n't think about yourself like that , '' Williams added . `` You just think , I want to work hard and do the best I can . Then you start chasing titles , then you start chasing legends and it 's just a great feeling . '' A 17-year-old Williams won her first grand slam singles titles at Flushing Meadows in 1999 , beating Switzerland 's Martina Hingis to become the first African American woman to win a grand slam tournament since Althea Gibson in 1958 . Fifteen years on , Williams now has six U.S. Open singles titles to her name -- a feat only matched by Evert in the Open era -- to go with five titles at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon and two at the French Open . Success at this year 's final slam caps a season of highs and lows for Williams who has won six WTA titles so far this year but , until now , had struggled on the biggest stage . In January , Williams exited the Australian Open in the fourth round and followed it with shock second and third round defeats at Roland Garros and Wimbledon respectively . `` ( It 's been ) a super crazy year -- I expect so much out of myself . So definitely the highs have been great . Getting the 18th ( title ) here at the Open -- I think it was fitting . '' Williams will now be eyeing Steffi Graf 's Open era record of 22 grand slam singles titles . Read more : Serena Williams overpowers Caroline Wozniacki .
Serena Williams reflects on record-equaling 18th grand slam title at U.S. Open . Williams victory sees her match career totals of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova . World No . 1 is now four off Steffi Graf 's Open era tally of 22 grand slam singles titles .