Serena wins US Open title

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 U.S. Open crown but her first here since 2002.

8220;I8217;m so excited,8221; a beaming Williams said in a courtside interview. 8220;It is that special because I8217;ve been working so hard.

8220;And I wasn8217;t even going for number one and it8217;s just like an added bonus.8221;

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 US Open title with a crunching backhand winner before leaping for joy.