Wimbledon 2012 Update: Serena Captures Fifth Title With Win Over Radwanska
Serena Williams defeated Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday to capture the 2012 Wimbledon Women’s Singles Championship. The win marked Serena’s fifth women’s singles title on the grass courts of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and the 14th Grand Slam title of her career. Serena is now tied with sister Venus Williams for third-most Wimbledon titles in the Open Era with five. The two trail only Martina Navratilova, who has nine, and Steffi Graf, who has seven.
"Oh my God, I can’t even describe it," said Serena is her post-match interview. "I want to thank Jehovah for letting me get this far. I almost didn’t make it a few years ago, but now I’m here again and it’s so worth it. I’m so happy. I’ve dreamed of being here again. It shows if you never give up, you can achieve anything."
Serena’s Saturday win was her first Grand Slam triumph since her year-long absence from the game due to injury and illness. Two years ago, Serena suffered an injury to her foot, followed then by a more serious pulmonary embolism that kept her out of action for nearly a full year.
Radwanska, despite the loss, will rise from three to number two in the WTA Rankings now, her first time at the number two spot. Russian Maria Sharapova will be bounced from the top spot atop the WTA Rankings as Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, a Wimbledon semifinalist eliminated by eventual winner Serena, will reclaim the number one ranking.
