By Gary Anderson

September 8 - Serena Williams celebrates her fifth US Open womens singles title in New YorkSerena Williams overcame Belarusian Victoria Azarenka and a gusting wind at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows in New York, to clinch her fifth US Open singles title and her 17th Grand Slam victory.

Despite winning the final set 6-1, the world number one struggled at times with the winds that were swirling around the 23,000 capacity concrete bowl, and her frustration at being called for a foot fault and giving away a series of double faults led her to smash her racket into the ground at one stage.

However, she showed why she has been the dominant force in the women's game for the past decade by composing herself to eventually run out a 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 winner that has put her sixth on the all-time women's Grand Slam winners list just behind compatriots Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

In a tight opening set, two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka threatened to make the decisive break on four occasions as she was just two points from taking the set, but Williams recovered to hammer a return at the feet of the Belarusian to eventually take the opening set 7-5.

It seemed that after her initial struggles, the London 2012 women's singles gold medallist had finally found her rhythm as she broke the world number two twice in quick succession to take what seemed a commanding 4-1 lead in the second set.

A mixture of joy and relief for Serena Williams after she bagged her 17th career Grand Slam titleA mixture of joy and relief for Serena Williams after she bagged her
17th career Grand Slam title






















































However, Azarenka was not going down without a fight and signalled her intent by breaking straight back as Williams sent a wayward forehand wide, before a series of double faults and unforced errors by the reigning champion suddenly had the second set going into a tie-break.

Frustration at the tricky conditions and her loose play appeared to be getting the better of Williams, as another backhand shot went long to hand Azarenka victory in the tie-break and the second set 6-7.

In a repeat of last year's US Open final between the two, the match went into a third and deciding set and considering Williams' struggles and the shift in momentum, the Belarusian would have surely had it in her mind that her first US Open crown was becoming a distinct possibility.

However, at 2-1 down the 24-year-old from Minsk double faulted on break point to hand the initiative back to the reigning champion.

And if there is one thing that her opponents have learned about Williams over the years is that the woman from Michigan has an innate ability to ram home an advantage when she gets it as she broke Azarenka again before serving out the match to win in two hours 45 minutes.

"Vika's [Azarenka] such a great opponent, such a great fighter and that's why she's been able to win multiple Grand Slams," said Williams of Azarenka, who had beaten her twice this year, most recently in Cincinnati in the lead up to the US Open.

"That's why it was never over until match point.''

World number two Victoria Azarenka lost out to Serena Williams for the second year in succession at Flushing MeadowsWorld number two Victoria Azarenka lost out to Serena Williams for the second year in succession at Flushing Meadows






























Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou, praised the 31-year-old for not allowing her early frustrations to get the better of her in the deciding set.

"In the third set, Serena really found a way to calm down and restart from zero and quickly erase what happened," he said.

"You could see she clicked.

"She realised she was not aggressive enough.

"She was letting Vika dictate too much, and all of a sudden, things completely changed."

Williams' win in New York has seen her become the first woman to top $50 million (£32 million/€38 million) in career earnings.

Her $50.9 million (£32.5 million/€38.6 million) total is $22.1 million (£14.1 million/€16.8 million) more than her sister Venus, who is second on the list at $28.8 million (£18.4 million/€21.9 million).

"She's a champion, and she knows how to repeat that," Azarenka said.

"She knows what it takes to get there.

"I know that feeling, too.

"And when two people who want that feeling so bad meet, it's like a clash.

"It is a tough loss, but to be in the final and play against the best player, who deserves to win today, it's incredible.

"I gave it all today.

"We showed our hearts.

"We fought hard.''

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