Serena seeks to cap comeback year with Grand Slam No. 24

Serena Williams, riding an emotional rollercoaster as she adapts to juggling tennis and motherhood, seeks to end 2018 on a high with a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open.

The US great counts six US Open victories among her 23 Slams and with one more would match Australian Margaret Court's record for most major singles titles.

She could also join Court, Evonne Goolagong and Kim Clijsters as the only mothers to win Grand Slam singles titles, but since an impressive run to the Wimbledon final -- where she fell to Angelique Kerber -- Williams has endured a lackluster buildup to the hardcourt showpiece in Flushing Meadows.

"I'm still at the very beginning, this is a long comeback," she defiantly told reporters after a second-round loss to Petra Kvitova -- winner of five titles this year -- in the second round at Cincinnati.

"I just began, I just started," Williams said. "I'm definitely at the very, very beginning."
"Having a baby and feeling with the emotions and the ups and downs and the fears and the excitement."
- Halep in form -
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"She's starting to see the structure and the momentum changes and the swings much better than she used to. That's why now she's able to turn matches around, where as once upon a time they used to slip away pretty quickly."