On her best behaviour but unable to dominate an opponent seven years her junior, Williams showed all her great fighting qualities to survive a ferocious comeback from Azarenka and seal victory after more than two and a quarter hours to become the oldest US Open champion in nearly four decades.
“I honestly can’t believe I won,” Williams said in a courtside interview. “I was preparing my runner-up speech because she was playing so great. I’m really shocked.”
Billed as a clash between the greatest player of her generation and the top player in the world this year, the match lived up to all the hype and more after initially offering only a one-sided romp for Williams.
The American raced through the opening set in just 35 minutes with two service breaks and 16 stunning winners.
But the Belarusian, who won her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, suddenly found a way to penetrate the booming Williams serve, setting the stage for an epic contest in which both players ran themselves to the point of exhaustion.
“I’m just honoured to be standing with such a champion here,” Azarenka said.
“I definitely gave it all today. Stepping out of this court today I will have no regrets.”
Only Australia’s Margaret Court, who had already turned 31 when she won her last US Open crown in 1973, won the title at an older age.
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