NEW YORK No player had gone so long between stints at No. 1 in womens tennis.
More than five years after she last held the top ranking, Serena Williams officially regained the distinction Monday hours after winning the U.S. Open for the third time.
It had been even longer since her last Open championship six years. And though it was her ninth Grand Slam title, it was just her second since capturing the Australian Open in early 2005.
Williams beat Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 7-5 in the final and didnt drop a set the entire tournament. She figures many doubted that shed ever climb back on top of the tennis world as her ranking plummeted all the way to No. 139.
Oh, yeah, she said Monday. I think a lot of people, probably everyone thought (that). I always felt that I can be No. 1 if I really put in the effort.
Williams looked relaxed during interviews at the ESPN Zone in Times Square, dressed in a red dress with a pink shawl. She couldnt wait to get some sleep shed managed only about an hour over the previous 24.
After making the finals at two straight majors she lost to sister Venus at Wimbledon she likes the consistency shes finally showing.
I enjoyed the journey because it wasnt overnight, she said. It wasnt like it just happened.
Serena Williams enjoying US Open win, top ranking in womens tennis
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Published on
September 9, 2008
- Published on January 4, 2010
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The Associated Press ~ staff The News
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