Finally tested, even trailing, at the U.S. Open, Serena Williams turned things around just in time.
Two points from defeat, Williams suddenly regained her composure and her strokes, coming back to win the last four games and beat top-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 on Sunday night for her fourth championship at Flushing Meadows and 15th Grand Slam title overall.
Serena Williams celebrates after winning her fourth U.S. Open singles trophy Sunday, beating Victoria Azarenka in three sets.
"I honestly can't believe I won. I really was preparing my runner-up speech, because I thought, `Man, she's playing so great," Williams said during the trophy presentation after the 2-hour, 18-minute match, adding: "I'm really shocked."
Might be the only one.
After all, what really was stunning was that Azarenka made things as interesting as they were, given that she came into the day 1-9 against Williams over their careers.
Add in that Williams hadn't dropped a set in the tournament, losing only 19 games through six matches before Sunday. All part of a tremendous run she is putting together in reaction to her loss at the French Open in late May, the American's only first-round exit in 49 career major tournaments. Since then, she is 26-1, winning Wimbledon and the London Olympics.
There hadn't been a three-set women's final in New York since 1995, and Williams came through with a late charge to become the first woman to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in the same season since a decade ago, when -- yes, that's right -- she did it
congrats Serena, you gave me a scare but you pulled it off. I'm proud of you.
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