NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams won her fifth U.S. Open championship and 17th Grand Slam title overall by beating Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-1 in a windy final Sunday.
No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal won his 13th Grand Slam title Monday by edging No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a riveting U.S. Open final filled with lengthy points and fantastic shotmaking.
Nadal's victory gave him a second championship at Flushing Meadows, and came a year after he missed the tournament with a knee injury.
This was their 37th head-to-head match, the most between two men in the Open era, and their third U.S. Open final in four years. Nadal beat Djokovic for the 2010 title, and Djokovic won their rematch in 2011.
Nadal improved to 60-3 with nine titles this season. His total of 13 major trophies ranks third in the history of men's tennis, behind only Roger Federer's 17 and Pete Sampras' 14.
It was the toughest test these two weeks for the top-ranked Williams, who also beat No. 2 Azarenka in three sets in last year's final.
Williams hadn't lost a set in her previous six matches but was bothered by the swirling air and Azarenka's strong play. Seemingly in control in the second set, Williams was broken while serving for the match at 5-4 and 6-5.
After Azarenka took the tiebreaker, Williams chucked her racket, and it bounced onto the court.
But Williams regained control in the third set, breaking for a 3-1 lead when Azarenka double-faulted.