Serena Williams takes home fifth Wimbledon title
US tennis star Serena Williams beats Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska for her 14th Grand Slam singles title following a comeback from surgery.
Serena Williams, 30, was crowned Wimbledon champion on Saturday after a brave fightback by third-seeded Ms Radwanska to win 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.
She also takes home a cheque for £1.15 m ($1.8m), is the first woman 30 or over to win Wimbledon since Martina Navratilova in 1990.
But it was not an easy victory. Ms Radwanska, 23, had Ms Williams on the run in the second set before the sixth seeded player regained her composure to claim Wimbledon’s Venus Rosewater Dish in two hours.
The win allows Ms Williams to equal her sister Venus’s five titles at the All England Club and put behind her the disappointing French Open first round exit last month and a spell in hospital with blood clots.
‘I want what Venus has’
“I can’t even describe it. I almost didn’t make it a few years ago when I was in hospital. Now I’m here again and I’m so happy,” she said. “It just shows you should never give up.”
“Aggie played so well,” Ms Williams added. “But I’ve always wanted everything that Venus has. Sorry I had to copy you again Venus.”
After the match, Ms Radwanska said she was still shaking.
“I had the best two weeks of my life. Of course Serena was playing too good today but I’m just happy to be here in the final,” Ms Radwanska said. “I was unlucky to play a few matches in the cold and rain. That didn’t help.”
Polish pride
Ms Radwanska was severely affected by an upper respiratory illness in the last few days and withdrew from the doubles and cancelled her pre-match media commitments. She is the first Pole to reach a Grand Slam final for 73 years but it was not her day.
On cruise control for so long, Ms Williams proved yet again that she is a force to battle for every point.