She's done it again! Serena Williams wins her fifth Wimbledon title as she draws level with sister Venus
- American champion insisted she would not take Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska lightly in women's singles final
- Radwanska has surprised many by reaching her first Grand Slam final
- Elated winner climbs into stands to embrace her father and sister
- S WILLIAMS 6-1, 5-7, 6-2* A RADWANSKA
By JILL REILLY
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The U.S. champion dominated the first set, although the Polish player won the second as she began to gain confidence and fight back. In the third, however, the younger of the Williams sisters finished the job in clinical fashion.
The 30-year-old winner crumpled to the ground in relief as she sent the final ball past Radwanksa, then clambered into the stands to embrace her father and sister.
Serena Williams literally jumps for joy as she beat Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the Wimbledon women's final, taking the title for the fifth time to match her sister Venus's record at the Championships
The U.S champion dominated the first set, although the Polish player won the second as she began to gain confidence and fight back. However, in the third set the younger of the Williams sisters took the title
The 30-year-old winner crumpled to the ground in relief as she sent the final ball past Radwanksa, then clambered into the stands to embrace her father and sister
Before the match Williams said she was determined to beat Radwanska, who she complimented and said had been consistent in her playing throughout the year
U.S player Serena Williams couldn't contain her excitement and immediately ran to embrace her father and her sister following the win
Serena embraces her elder sister Venus, right, after winning her fifth Wimbledon title - the same amount as her sister
Venus, left, claps as her younger sister Serena embraces her father Richard who has been instrumental in her career
Overwhelmed by her win, a delighted Serena drops to the ground after winning the Women's final at Wimbledon
Serena has won the championship a total of five times and said she would not be taking the final lightly because her opponent Radwanska had been performing well throughout the year
Radwanska was seeded three places higher than Williams at No 3 and had surprised many by emerging through the top half of the draw to reach her first Grand Slam final.
Before today's match Serena Williams insisted that she would not be taking Radwanska lightly in the Wimbledon women's final.
Williams is the player every other fears at Wimbledon and there have looked to be few flaws in her game during impressive quarter-final and semi-final victories over Petra Kvitova, the winner last year, and Victoria Azarenka, who takes the world number one spot thanks to Radwanska loss.
Maria Sharapova, who was top of the rankings before today's match, was set to lose her place whatever the result.
Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska holds the runner-up trophy following the defeat by Serena Williams
Trusted purple pants: Serena Williams serves to Agnieszka Radwanska during the women's final match for the Wimbledon Championships
Show of strength: Agnieszka Radwanska plays a shot to Williams - despite being seeded three places higher than Williams at No 3 - she has surprised many by emerging through the top half of the draw to reach her first Grand Slam final
Battle: Play was suspended when it began to rain, but the two players emerged on the court again quickly
Nerves: Despite being an overwhelming favourite for the title, sixth seed Williams said: 'I have to go out there and win. Agnieszka has had a better year than I have. She's been way more consistent than me'
Serena Williams has won the championship five times including the final in 2003, left, and 2002, right
Serena is pictured at the 2009 women's final with her trophy, left, and in 2010. She is the one player feared by every other at Wimbledon
Adding to the likelihood of a Williams victory was the fact Radwanska has been ill.
Radwanska had a respiratory illness affecting her nose and throat, which forced her to cancel a planned press conference and stay away from the practice courts.
Pointing her finger at the miserable British summer weather, Radwanska said: 'I have been playing a lot of matches here in the rain and cold wind, and I haven't been well for a few days.'
But, despite being an overwhelming favourite for the title, sixth seed Williams said before the match: 'I have to go out there and win.
Appreciative audience: Comedian Michael McIntyre, back left, and Miranda Hart, watch the tense match unfold
Checking the weather: Vogue editor Anna Wintour made an appearance on Centre Court for the women's final match
Hollywood watches: Actors Rachel McAdams and Michael Sheen look on from the Royal Box on Centre Court
Support: Oracene Williams (centre), the mother of Serena Williams sits on Centre Court under an umbrella
'Agnieszka has had a better year than I have. She's been way more consistent than me.
'She's done really well, so she's ranked higher than me. She deserves to be.
'I have to go out there and fight for this. This is by no means going to be easy.
Never, ever do I underestimate any opponent. She's out there to try to do her best.
'I really like Aga. She's a great girl.'
Radwanska is the first Polish player for 75 years to have reached a Wimbledon singles final.
Jadwiga Jedrzejowska was the last, in 1937, when she lost to Britain's Dorothy Round.
Delay: Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland walk off the court as rain delays play
Speedy: Court attendants run to cover Centre Court during a rain break
Testing times: Four-times champion Serena Williams Agnieszka Radwanska walk out on the court before their match
Anticipation: Despite being seeded three places higher than Williams at No 3 Radwanska has surprised many by emerging through the top half of the draw to reach her first Grand Slam final
Training: Andy Murray warms up today with the help of fitness coach Jez Green on the practice court. Yesterday he was victorious against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Determined: Andy Murray trains before his men's final tennis match on Sunday against Roger Federer of Switzerland
OXFAM SET TO COLLECT THOUSANDS IF FEDERER TAKES TITLE AGAINST MURRAY ON SUNDAY
While the nation roots for its first British Wimbledon champion in 76 years, one charity could be hoping that Federer takes the title.
Oxfam is set to collect £101,840 if Federer wins tomorrow, in a payout from a wager staked nine years ago.
Nick Newlife bet £1,520 in 2003 that the Swiss tennis legend - who then had just one Wimbledon title - would win seven or more times. Bookmakers William Hill offered Mr Newlife, from Oxford, odds of 66/1.
Mr Newlife died in 2009, aged 59, bequeathing his entire estate - including the bet - to Oxfam The charity estimates around 12% of its income is from legacies.
Mr Newlife died in 2009, aged 59, bequeathing his entire estate - including the bet - to Oxfam The charity estimates around 12% of its income is from legacies.
William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: 'This will be one of the very rare occasions that we will payout with a smile on our face.'
William Hill is currently giving odds of 13/8 for Murray to lift the trophy, with Federer at 8/15.
The bookmaker has previously said tomorrow will be the biggest tennis match in its 78-year history and a win by Murray will prompt a £5 million industry payout.
Mr Adams added: 'If he lifts the trophy we will probably have the worst day of tennis betting in our long history, with a probable industry payout of £5 million.'
Krakow-based Radwanska said: 'The most important thing is that I'm feeling good on the court and playing some good tennis, despite not being able to talk much away from the court.
'I will do whatever it takes to make sure I'm ready to play the best I can.'
Williams fired a women's Wimbledon record of 24 aces past Azarenka in their semi-final.
The 30-year-old puts her proficiency down to experience.
'The older I get, the better I serve, and the more I like to hit aces,' Williams said.
'But in my whole career I've hit a lot of aces throughout tournaments.
'I don't know how it got better. I really don't know. It's not like I go home and I work on baskets and baskets of serves. Maybe it's a natural shot for me.'
Meanwhile Murray's surprise victory in the Wimbledon semifinals, after losing at the same stage three years running, has left British royalty, politicians and celebrities scrambling for a spot to watch Sunday's showdown between the Scot and Roger Federer.
By powering past France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to become the first British man to reach the final in 74 years, Murray took Britain's collective mind off the dreary weather and dismal economy and gave the country a new hero - at least for now.
The joy was tempered by surprise that Murray had really pulled it off - and a sense that it would be tempting fate to expect him to beat Federer and become the first British Wimbledon men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936.
Bunny Austin made the final two years later, but lost. Virginia Wade won the women's title in 1977.
Anticipation: Warren Symonds poses with a Scottish flag at the makeshift campsite for fans queuing for a space on to watch the men's final tomorrow at Wimbledon
Dedicated fans: The makeshift campsite for fans queuing for a space on what has been nicknamed 'Murray Mount'
Making history: By powering past France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Murray became the first British man to reach the final in 74 years and these fans are queuing to see the historic match
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2170111/Serena-Williams-brings-colour-Wimbledon-womens-final-trusty-purple-pants.html#ixzz1zxvKjTqr
