NEW YORK: Serena Williams wrapped up her remarkable summer with the latest rendition of a scene that has become familiar the past few months, jumping up and down on the tennis court with a mile-wide smile across her face.
She picked up a big-time prize – this time, the US Open trophy, which will look good somewhere near the gold medals she won at the Olympics and the silver plate she took home from Wimbledon.
If there was anything unexpected about her latest triumph, it was the challenge she faced from Victoria Azarenka, especially considering the way Williams dominated everyone she faced on the way to Sunday’s final, to say nothing of the way the final started.
Come the third set, with the sun going down and the stadium completely blanketed in shadows, Williams stood only two points away from a loss. She rediscovered her form in time, took the last four games of the match and won her fourth title at Flushing Meadows and 15th Grand Slam title overall with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory. It was the first women’s US Open final to go three sets since 1995.
”If it was anybody other than Serena on the other side of the court, I’m not sure we’d be talking now,” said Patrick Mouratoglou, a coach who has been working with Williams recently. ”But it was Serena. She was there. She’s a winner and she’s a champion.”
The US Open was the clincher – a two-week clinic during which she lost only 19 games over her first six matches, then put on a display in how to play pressure tennis when the stakes were the highest. Trailing 5-3 and serving at 30-30 against Azarenka, the Australian Open champion seeded first in this tournament, Williams wrested back control of the match by winning 10 of the next 12 points.
”Obviously, I never give up,” Williams said. ”I never, never quit. I’ve come back so many times in so many matches. I wasn’t too nervous.”
Indeed, for a woman who has had her share of flare-ups here in recent years, Williams barely showed a trace of emotion when this match was at its diciest. There was the smallest of hesitations for a second look after a serve was called out at 3-5, 30-15. And, when she closed out that game three points later, she did the quickest of skips – a nearly imperceptible celebration before a calm walk to the chair to get ready for the service break she had to get.
She got it, then held serve, and then twice held off Azarenka when she was one point from forcing a third-set tiebreaker. The first save came on a backhand winner, one of 44 winners Williams hit to only 13 for her counterpunching, but less powerful, opponent.
”Feels like there is no room for a mistake,” Azarenka said in describing what it’s like dealing with Williams’ game. ”There is no room for a wrong decision.”
Also on Williams’ mind this summer has been her long journey back.
Williams is the first woman to win Wimbledon and the US Open in the same season since 2002, which is when she last did it.
She moved three Grand Slam titles away from a tie for fourth on the all-time list with Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
Navratilova was the last thirty-something to win the US Open. Williams, who turns 31 on September 26, joins her on that list.
But Williams does not play, act or talk like a woman nearing the end of her career.
There are a few tournaments to be played this autumn and the next Grand Slam starts in January in Australia. Williams said ”my motivation is up there,” and those who know her feel it, too. (AP)