Williams wins US Open final

All smiles: Serena Williams won the women's finals in three straight sets on Sunday

Happy ending: Willams beat top-ranked Victoria Azarenka on Sunday night for her fourth championship at Flushing Meadows and 15th Grand Slam title overall

Power shot: Williams hadn't dropped a set in the tournament, losing only 19 games through six matches before Sunday

Hitting the floor in joy: Williams dropped down to the court after realizing the game was over

Fourth time: Williams, the younger of the famous tennis sisters, has won the U.S. Open three previous times

 

SERENA WILLIAMS came back from the brink to landher 15th Grand Slam last night.

The American legend was staring down the barrell at 5-4 down in the third set to World No1 Victoria Azarenka.

But the Belarusian fluffed her lines as she tried to serve for her second Slam of the year and as soon as Williams got a sniff, she was able to land her fourth US Open crown.

The 30 year-old had started like a train and was destroying Azarenkawith some ferocious hitting.

The World No1 looked nervous and in an instant the American was 6-2 ahead and seemingly coasting after just 34 minutes.

But Azarenka isn’t the best on the planet for nothing.

The 23 year hitback superbly, breaking early on and winning the set in style.

It was, amazingly, the first time since 1995 that the women’s final at the US Open had gone the distance.

And Azarenka quickly took control by breaking for 2-1 only for Williams to hit straight back with her own break.

When the American hit long to allow the Belarussian edge 4-3 up after breaking to love, she looked in real trouble.

But somehow the Olympic gold medallist clawed her way back in at 5-5 as Azarenka buckled under the pressure.

Supportive sibling: Venus Williams, who has won the U.S. Open twice herself, cheered on her younger sister

Victory lap: Serena immediately ran over to her mother (seen wearing a hat) in the stands, as her sister Venus looked on from the third row (back center right) and Anna Wintour (back right) clapped