World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus narrowly failed in her bid to win a second grand slam title, this time on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, New York.
Azarenka, who's been top ranked on the women's tour since early July, lost to American Serena Williams 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 after Williams mounted a furious comeback in the third and deciding set.
Azarenka was two points from victory at 5-3 in the third set before Williams rallied back.
It is Williams' fourth U.S. Open title and 15th Grand Slam title overall.
Williams hadn't dropped a set at the tournament before the finals.
Coming into the match, Azarenka was 1-9 against Williams and was playing in only her second Grand Slam final.
She started the year with a breakthrough showing at the Australian Open, becoming the first Belarusian tennis player ever to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Azarenka, a right-hander with a grunt that is among the loudest in the women's game, moved from her native Minsk to Arizona to train at the age of 16.
Azarenka, who's been top ranked on the women's tour since early July, lost to American Serena Williams 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 after Williams mounted a furious comeback in the third and deciding set.
Azarenka was two points from victory at 5-3 in the third set before Williams rallied back.
It is Williams' fourth U.S. Open title and 15th Grand Slam title overall.
Williams hadn't dropped a set at the tournament before the finals.
Coming into the match, Azarenka was 1-9 against Williams and was playing in only her second Grand Slam final.
She started the year with a breakthrough showing at the Australian Open, becoming the first Belarusian tennis player ever to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Azarenka, a right-hander with a grunt that is among the loudest in the women's game, moved from her native Minsk to Arizona to train at the age of 16.