Serena made to wait even longer for home slam success

Published on Sunday 7 September 2008 23:47

THE US Open women's final between Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic has been delayed until late last night due to the heavy rain and wind from Tropical Storm Hanna.

Fourth-seeded American Williams will be looking to collect her third Flushing Meadows title – but first in six years – when she takes on Jankovic.

After winning her second US Open crown in 2002 at the age of 21, Williams was expected to challenge for many more championships here.

However, injuries have plagued her, preventing her from competing the next season and limiting her preparation in subsequent years.

Williams' fortunes mirrored those of the United States, with no American woman having reached the US Open final over that period.

"I'm just happy to be finally back in the finals," Williams said. "For once, an American is back in the finals here so I'm really excited."

Williams has been free of injury for the most part this season, enabling her to challenge for her first grand slam crown since the Australian Open in 2007. She reached the title match at Wimbledon, but lost to sister Venus.

Serena got the upper hand in the family affair here, beating Venus in the quarter-finals in a pair of tie-breaks on Wednesday night. She continued her stellar play yesterday, easily dispatching one of the hottest players on the women's tour in Dinara Safina in the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-2 rout.

Next up for Williams is second seed Jankovic, who reached a new career milestone yesterday. Previously without an appearance in a grand slam final despite briefly being ranked No1 in the world, the Serbian finally came through in her fifth showing in the semi-finals of a major, beating Elena Dementieva in straight sets.

It was an emotional win for Jankovic, who admitted when she held the top ranking for a week last month, she did not feel she fully deserved it because of her inability to make a final of a grand slam.

"As you can see, I have tears in my eyes," Jankovic told the crowd during an on-court interview on Saturday. "I'm a little bit emotional to be in the final." This will be the seventh meeting between Williams and Jankovic, with the two players tied at three wins apiece. The American won the only match-up in a final, taking the title at Miami in three sets in April.

Williams insisted yesterday she would not be bothered if the weather pushed back the women's final.

"I don't know if we'll play tomorrow, but I'm ready to play tomorrow," Williams said. "Hopefully we can. If not, I'll be ready for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday... doesn't matter."