Serena Williams celebrated a fifth Wimbledon women’s singles title on
Saturday and admitted she thought she’d never be a winner again after
battling a life-threatening illness.
Williams, who now has 14 Grand Slam titles, was laid low by dangerous
blood clots that kept her out of the sport for a year until the eve of
last year’s tournament.
But the American buried all those fears with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 win in the
final over Polish world number three Agnieszka Radwanska.
“I can’t describe it. I almost didn’t make it a few years ago. I was in
hospital and I thought I’d never be here again, so this makes it so
worth it,” said Williams, the first 30-year-old since Martina
Navratilova in 1990 to take the title at the All England Club.
“It’s all the sweeter. I was so down but you never give up. You have to
continue,” added Williams, who won her first Wimbledon title in 2002.
Radwanska, bidding to become the first Pole to win a major title, had
been laid low by a respiratory illness in recent days but battled hard
before losing.
It was her third defeat in three matches against Serena, but the first time she had taken a set off the champion.
“I am very proud to have got to the final. I am still shaking but I
tried, it just wasn’t my day,” said the 23-year-old, who was fighting
back tears after the final.
“I have been unlucky here, playing in the wind and the rain, but I still played some great matches.”
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