American Serena Williams defeated second seed Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 7-5 in the women's US Open final on Sunday for her ninth career Grand Slam title and the world number one ranking.
There was plenty at stake as fourth-seeded Williams received the WTA top ranking, a spot she previously held for 57 weeks beginning in 2002.
On Sunday, she kept the Serbian off guard by imposing her powerful serve and strong ground strokes on Jankovic, who was competing in her first Grand Slam final.
The 21-year-old Jankovic came out with more spark in the opening set, taking an early break to go up 2-1.
But Williams broke back in the fourth, sixth and 10th games to take the set.
Williams clinched the match on her second match point, blasting a backhand winner into the open side of the court.
She celebrated by throwing her racket into the air and then jumping up and down before going to the net to shake Jankovic's hand.
Jankovic blew her chance to force a third set as she was up 5-3, 40-0 but then made three straight unforced errors to let Williams off the hook.
Both players didn't want to give an inch, even driving the ball directly at each other on a couple of net points.
This is the ninth time in history that a Grand Slam final has featured two women battling for number one in the world.
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