Wimbledon 2012 highlights: Serena Williams wins fifth title
Wimbledon 2012: Serena Williams wins fifth singles title
Serena Williams overcame a resurgent Agnieszka Radwanska to clinch a hard-fought 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory and earn her fifth Wimbledon singles title.
The American had eased through the opening set before Radwanska regrouped to win a rain-delayed second set.
Match stats
| Radwanska | Williams | |
|---|---|---|
|
2 |
Aces |
17 |
|
105mph |
Fastest serve |
120mph |
|
73% |
First serves |
56% |
|
13 |
Winners |
58 |
|
14 |
Unforced errors |
36 |
|
2/2 |
Break points |
5/15 |
|
13/21 |
Net pts |
20/31 |
But Williams broke twice in the decider to kill off Radwanska's challenge.
The 30-year-old then followed up her success to claim the doubles title with sister Venus, defeating Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-5 6-4.
Her singles victory is Williams's 14th Grand Slam title and follows Wimbledon singles victories in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010.
But it is also her first since spending almost a year out of action between summer 2010 and 2011 with a leg injury and subsequent pulmonary embolism.
"I can't even describe it. I almost didn't make it a few years ago," she said after her win, referring to her health problems.
"I was in hospital but now I'm here again and it was so worth it. I'm so happy.
"Aggie played so well and that's why she's had such a great career and she's so young."
Match analysis
"I've seen them all, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert was a machine... Monica Seles, Steffi Graf but I believe we're watching the greatest female player that's ever played this game in Serena Williams."
Such an absorbing finish seemed highly unlikely as Williams demolished Radwanska in the opening set, raising the fear that her opponent was struggling with a respiratory illness that forced her to call off a news conference on Friday.
The world number three seemed to lack the energy to realise her hopes of countering Williams's clubbing baseline power with guile and touch.
A brief rain shower appeared to have opposite effects on the pair however, as Radwanska emerged revitalised and Williams's forehand grew increasingly erratic.
Williams broke to love in the third game with a walloped return winner, but her nerves tightened and Radwanska raised her game just in time to avert a seemingly inevitable straight-sets win.
Radwanska forced break point for the first time in the match to level at 4-4 and the crowd threw their support behind her renaissance.
Wimbledon 2012: Serena's winning moment and reaction
Suddenly Radwanska's scurrying and fetching was asking questions and Williams, apparently beset by mental demons, crashed into the net from midcourt to send the match into a decider.
The American had lost only four of the previous 194 Grand Slam matches in which she won the opening set however, and reasserted her authority to protect that record and accelerate away from Radwanska.
Radwanska saw off two break points to hold for a 2-1 lead, but Williams served out in less than a minute in the following game and was not to be denied in the next.
A cute drop shot moved her a double break and 5-2 clear and Williams kept any lingering jitters at bay to serve out before dropping to the turf in delight.
Career Grand Slam titles in the Open era
- Margaret Court (Aus) - 24
- Steffi Graf (Ger) - 22
- Martina Navratilova (Czh/US) - 18
- Serena Williams (US) - 14
- Monica Seles (Yug/US) - 9
- Billie Jean King (US) - 8
- Evonne Goolagong (Aus) - 7
- Justine Henin (Bel) - 7
- Venus Williams (US) - 7
Her victory is the first time the title has been won by a woman over 30 since Martina Navratilova's triumph in 1990 and restores Victoria Azarenka, the Belarussian she beat in the semi-final, to the world number one spot.
Williams also served a total of 102 aces en route to lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish - more than any other woman has managed in a single Wimbledon campaign.
Radwanska admitted she was at a loss as to how to deal with the Williams serve.
"She was really serving well. This is the thing I can't do anything about it," said the Pole.
"Second set I think was a little bit more windy, she didn't put that much first serves in and I could have my chances to break her back which I did.
"But it's her weapon and that's why she's won the tournament five times.
"These have been the best two weeks of my life. Of course it's always disappointing to lose, especially after a tough and good match but I'm very happy about my final."
Serena Williams then made it two titles in a day as she partnered sister Venus, 32, to victory in the women's doubles.
They beat the Czech sixth seeds Hlavackova and Hradecka to claim what was their fifth Wimbledon doubles title together, and 13th combined Grand Slam.
Williams sisters' win Doubles title
Comments
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Comment number 291. Posted by Rajesh
on 9 Jul 2012 14:46Serina well come back like a phoenix and becomes the queen of tennis
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Comment number 290. Posted by villainies
on 9 Jul 2012 12:53The lack of respect for one of the all time greats in many of these comments is suprising. Serena clearly has so much more to her game than a big serve. No-one wins 14 majors spanning a career as long as hers without being a fabulous player. On grass at least, she has proved yet again that she is the person to beat.
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Comment number 289. Posted by Rammie
on 8 Jul 2012 21:26Why is Chris Evert with 18 grand slam titles missing from the "Career Grand Slam titles in the Open era" list above?
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Comment number 288. Posted by Joyce
on 8 Jul 2012 18:42Imagine if it was a Serena fan that stabbed her opponent, Serena would get blamed for it. People would say she contacted her goons in the hood to to carry out the stabbing!!
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Comment number 287. Posted by Beachin999
on 8 Jul 2012 18:35Monica Seles was cheated ,she was surpassing Graf who could not keep up with her. Graf knows Monica was the better player. She showed no grace or sympathy to Seles when that moron stabbed her. Steffi- you didn't deserve it,neither did MONICA!
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Comment number 286. Posted by colours
on 8 Jul 2012 17:48Monica Seles at 16, won 7/9 consecutive Grand Slams, then got stabbed by a Steffi Graf Fan during a tournament in Hamburg Germany who was sick of Monica's domination. Monica was away for 27months, in her absence Graf returned to 1#, won Title after Title. Thats why she has 22 Grand Slams to her name.
Graff was a great Champion experts know 22GR didnot come natural. They wouldn't say it on TV. -
Comment number 284. Posted by blonde007
on 8 Jul 2012 17:29Murray, your time would come. Gracious in defeat. I'm touched.
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Comment number 283. Posted by Joyce
on 8 Jul 2012 17:26A crying Andy Murray, first Wimbledon final and he congratulates Roger. How gracious is that. He has certainly won my heart
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