She completed the Career Grand Slam three times over, thanks to victories at the Australian Open (7), French Open (3), Wimbledon (7), and US Open (6)

Williams was exceptional at all four tournaments but made a name for herself at her home Major during the early stages of her career.

Just one year after making her debut at the US Open, Williams broke through at Flushing Meadows, reaching the final, where she left her opponent completely shocked.

Serena Williams left Martina Hingis ‘startled’ after what she said to her before the 1999 US Open final

Williams produced two stunning upsets on her way to the final in New York 26 years ago, knocking out top five seeds Lindsay Davenport and Monica Seles.

• SF – Serena Williams beat [2] Lindsay Davenport, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
• QF – Serena Williams beat [4] Monica Seles, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
• 4R – Serena Williams beat [16] Conchita Martinez, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
• 3R – Serena Williams beat Kim Clijsters, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
• 2R – Serena Williams beat Jelena Kostanic, 6-4, 6-2
• 1R – Serena Williams beat Kimberly Po, 6-1, 6-0

1997 US Open champion Martina Hingis was her opponent in the final, someone Williams had already beaten twice on American soil in 1999.

Hingis won the coin toss before the match and elected to receive, a decision Williams immediately questioned.

“We were doing the coin toss, and I never talked about this, but I lose the coin toss and the referee says to Martina [Hingis] serve or receive,” she said.

“I looked at her and I said are you sure about that?

“She was startled, I was like okay.

“I won the first three games because I think she was so startled by what I had said.”

Looking back, Williams couldn’t believe what she said to Hingis after the coin toss.

“Years later I remember thinking I can’t believe I said that, I was like how did I say that?” said Williams.

“I can’t believe I said that!”

A ‘startled’ Hingis was unable to regain her composure in the first set, as her American opponent took the lead, 6-3.

Williams looked to have things won in the second, as she served for the match at 5-4, before falling apart just one game away from the title.

Breaking to love, the Swiss star leveled proceedings in the second set, as the pair eventually headed to a tiebreaker at Arthur Ashe stadium.

A long backhand from Hingis at 4-6, saw Williams lift her arms in disbelief, winning her first Grand Slam title at the age of 17.

Martina Hingis said she ‘wasn’t scared’ during 1999 US Open final with Serena Williams

Following her defeat in the final against Williams, Hingis was asked for her thoughts on Richard Williams’ comments, who had called the Swiss star ‘scared’ moments earlier.

“I wasn’t scared,” she said.

“I just couldn’t play my game, I mean, I missed terrible things, she did, too.

“It was like we were both sometimes on the knees just getting the ball in, it just wouldn’t happen sometimes.”

Hingis faced the difficult task of playing both Williams sisters back-to-back at the 1999 US Open, battling past Venus Williams in the semi-finals, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

After losing to the younger of the two sisters in the final, Hingis was asked whether Serena was in fact better than Venus.

“It’s different, I mean, she serves better definitely,” said Hingis.

“She puts more pressure on me like that, also, I have to serve well.

“That’s probably the biggest, you know, thing in my game that I have to improve, to just be more consistent.

“I have to definitely put more of those first serves in to just being able, you know, hang in those rallies.

“I know once I get into a rally at the end, I’m better, once you don’t get there, it’s too bad.”

Hingis and Williams played just once more at the US Open, battling it out for a place in the final two years later.

It was Williams who prevailed, winning in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, advancing to her second career US Open final.