Serena Williams Captures Fourth U.S. Open Singles Title

Serena Williams walked out of Arthur Ashe Stadium with her fourth U.S. Open singles title Sunday, but faced with world’s No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, even Williams was prepared to lose.

Down 3-5 in the decisive third set of the women’s final late Sunday afternoon and into the evening, Williams was on the edge of dropping her second straight U.S. Open final, after losing to Samantha Stosur in the 2011 women’s final.

Serena Williams came from behind in the third and deciding set to defeat Victoria Azarenka in the final round of the 2012 U.S. Open on Sunday, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

After rallying from 5-2 down in the third set, Williams won five straight points to take the lead and the match. Her last two points came on return errors by Azarenka.

Serena Williams put on a tennis clinic for Sara Errani Friday evening, overwhelming the Italian in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, to reach her sixth U.S. Open final.

It took only 64 minutes to get Errani off the court, with Williams racking up nine aces. Williams now has a tournament-leading 50 aces through the U.S. Open and has only lost one of the 26 matches she’s participated in since losing in the first round of the French Open back in May.

Victoria Azarenka has made it to her first U.S. Open final, coming back from losing the first set to defeat Maria Sharapova, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. The match lasted two hours and 35 minutes.

Azarenka double-faulted twice in the first set to lose two break points en route to a set loss, but then Sharapova would double-fault herself on a break point and lose her final point in the second. The third set was highly contested and filled with great rallies (lasting 67 minutes overall), with Azarenka finally breaking Sharapova on the final point.