Via Glooce
NEW YORK -- Serena Williams capped a dominating summer and earned player-of-the-year bragging rights by beating No. 1 Victoria Azarenka on Sunday in the U.S. Open final 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
Williams, the reigning Wimbledon champion and Olympic gold medalist in singles and doubles, clawed back from a shaky second set on Arthur Ashe Stadium to earn her fourth major title in New York and 15th overall.
Azarenka was up a break, serving or the match and two points from victory when Williams rallied.
Azarenka, who will remain No. 1 in the world despite the loss, won the Australian Open in January during a 26-match winning streak to open the season.
"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, 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 â?? yes, that's right â?? she did it.
"Serena deserves the win. She showed how true of a champion she is," Azarenka said. "I definitely gave it all today. Stepping out of this court today, I will have no regrets."
Azarenka hadn't dropped a three-set match all season until Sunday, going 12-0 in matches that went the distance, including victories over defending U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur in the quarterfinals and 2006 champion Maria Sharapova in the semifinals.
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