Victorious Williams ‘almost didn’t make it’ to Wimbledon

Former world No 1 rolls back the years to defeat Agnieszka Radwanska in three sets and lift her 14th grand slam trophy.

Serena Williams won her 14th major championship. Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

Serena Williams is back, and she looks almost as good as ever.

The 30-year-old American won her fifth Wimbledon title today on Centre Court, beating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 to lift her 14th grand slam trophy.

After hitting a backhand winner on match point, she fell on to her back to the grass. She then rose with a grin as big sister Venus – another five-time Wimbledon champion – smiled and applauded, along with the rest of the crowd.

After shaking hands with Radwanska, Williams climbed into the box where her family was seated. She hugged her father, Venus, their mother and others.

"I can't even describe it. I almost didn't make it," said Williams, who has battled health issues since winning the 2010 Wimbledon title. "A few years ago, you know, I was in the hospital, and now I'm here again. It's so worth it, and I'm so happy."

Out on court, Williams had little trouble at the start, using her hard serve and powerful groundstrokes to win the first five games and run Radwanska all over the grass.

Radwanska, who was playing in her first grand slam final, has been ill with a respiratory problem, making it difficult for her to speak. In the second set and already down a break, the third-seeded Pole was coughing and blowing her nose during a changeover. But she broke Williams in the next game to even the score at 4-4, and then broke again to win the second set.

Williams responded in the third set, breaking twice and serving out to win another major title.

Williams finished with 58 winners to 13 for Radwanska, including an edge of 20-3 in the final set. Williams lost only eight points on her first serve. “Aggie played so well. That’s why she has had such a great career, and so young,” Williams told the crowd.

“You guys should give her another round of applause because she’s amazing.”

“Serena played too good today, but I’m just very happy to be here in the final,” Radwanska said. “It was not my day. I’ll try just next year. We’ll see.”

It was Williams’s first grand slam title since she won at the All England Club two years ago. Shortly after winning that title, Williams cut her feet on glass at a restaurant, leading to a series of health problems, including being hospitalised for clots in her lungs.

“I never dreamt of being here again, being so down,” Williams said.

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