26. Serena beats Jankovic

NEW YORK: Serena Williams (left) is back as the U.S. Open champion, and she's back at No. 1, too.

Displaying the talent and tenacity that helped her dominate tennis earlier in the decade, Williams outlasted second-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4, 7-5 for her third U.S. Open championship and ninth Grand Slam title overall.

After flinging her racket straight up and jumping, hopping and skipping and screaming for joy, Williams met Jankovic at the net and felt compelled to say, "I'm sorry I got so excited.''

It was Williams' first triumph at Flushing Meadows since 2002, and it guaranteed that the American will lead the rankings on Monday for the first time since August 2003 - the longest gap between stints at No. 1 for a woman.

Jankovic was in that spot for one week last month and would have returned there by winning a final that was postponed from Saturday because of Tropical Storm Hanna.

In a thrill-a-minute match full of marvelous strokes and momentum swings, Williams was four times a single point from heading to a third set.

But she was simply relentless, and took the final four games and took the title without dropping a set.

The closest she came to losing 

In the quarterfinals, when she beat older sister Venus in two tiebreakers.

On this night, Venus was in the guest box, cheering for Kid Sis.

"Serena was a better player tonight,'' Jankovic said.

But the difference in strength was clear: Repeatedly after those lengthy exchanges, Jankovic was left shaking her racket hand, trying to lessen the sting.

On the match's very first point, Williams drove a backhand winner with such force, such ferocity, that she sent one of her earrings flying.

The fourth-seeded Williams finished with 44 winners, 29 more than Jankovic, and smacked serves at up to 120 mph (194 kph), a 14 mph (23 kph) edge over her opponent's fastest.

The finish was fantastic.

Williams somehow prolonged the second set after falling behind love-40 while serving and trailing 5-3.

Those three break points were set points for Jankovic, and Williams deleted each one, with a backhand winner, an overhead winner and then by forcing an errant backhand on a 10-stroke point.

A 98 mph (158 kph) service winner left a frustrated Jankovic tossing her racket up in the air. When she sailed the next return long, Williams was at 5-4.

The next game was filled with as much drama as many a match.

Jankovic earned her fourth set point with an ace, then blew it with a double fault. Williams earned six break points and frittered away five.

On No. 6, they produced a spectacular 22-stroke point that Williams ended with a forehand passing shot down the line.

As quickly as it appeared things were getting away from Williams, she regained the lead.

The next game featured more brilliant play by both, including a 24-stroke exchange Jankovic won with a forehand, and an 11-stroke point Williams took with a perfect stab volley.

Her father climbed out of his second-row seat to help celebrate, while her mother and Venus applauded in the guest box. - AP

Serena Williams Grand Slam Finals Results

Won 9, Lost 3

1999 U.S. Open - def. Martina Hingis, 6-3, 7-6 (4).

2001 U.S. Open - lost to Venus Williams, 6-2, 6-4.

2002 French Open - def. Venus Williams, 7-5, 6-3.

2002 Wimbledon - def. Venus Williams, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

2002 U.S. Open - def. Venus Williams, 6-4, 6-3.

2003 Australian Open - def. Venus Williams, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4.

2003 Wimbledon - def. Venus Williams, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

2004 Wimbledon - lost to Maria Sharapova, 6-1, 6-4.

2005 Australian Open - def. Lindsay Davenport, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.

2007 Australian Open - def. Maria Sharapova, 6-1, 6-2.

2008 Wimbledon - lost to Venus Williams, 7-5, 6-4.

2008 U.S. Open - def. Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 7-5.