-
Related
American Serena Williams won her ninth grand slam title by
beating tenacious Serbian Jelena Jankovic 6-4 7-5 in a high-quality
US Open women's final on Monday.
The 26-year-old broke Jankovic three times to take the opening set
before saving four set points in the second to seal victory in two
hours four minutes and regain the world number one ranking.
Williams, who swept away Russian Dinara Safina 6-3 6-2 in the
semi-finals, fended off spectacular retrieving by Jankovic with her
power game to clinch a third US Open crown but her first here since
2002.
"I'm so excited," a beaming Williams said in a courtside interview.
"It is that special because I've been working so hard.
"And I wasn't even going for number one and it's just like an added
bonus."
On a warm night at Flushing Meadows, the fourth seed won a long
opening service game but Jankovic, in her first grand slam final,
held serve and broke to lead 2-1 when Williams netted a
backhand.
The American then stepped up a gear, using her greater power to win
four straight games to lead 5-2.
Broke back
Jankovic held and broke back in the ninth game when her opponent
netted a backhand but Williams broke for a third time to wrap up
the opening set when the Serbian pushed a forehand long.
Williams held her opening serve in the second set but a scrambling
Jankovic saved two break points in the next to stay on level
terms.
The pair shared a series of exhausting rallies as they stayed on
serve to 3-3, although Jankovic had to save another two break
points to keep on terms.
Jankovic netted a forehand pass to hand Williams two break points
in the sixth game but the Serbian saved both, before breaking to
lead 4-3 when Williams netted a drop shot.
The Serbian held for 5-3 and when Williams trailed 0-40, she had
three set points but the American saved them all before forging
ahead 0-40 on the Jankovic serve.
In a marathon 10th game, Jankovic saved five break points and
forced a fourth set point, only to double-fault and then lose her
serve before Williams held to lead 6-5.
Jankovic saved one match point with a heavy forehand but Williams
forced another and then clinched her third U.S. Open title with a
crunching backhand winner before leaping for joy.
