Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

5th Wimbledon singles win for Williams

Updated at 11:59 am on 8 July 2012

Serena Williams won her fifth Wimbledon singles final and her 14th grand-slam singles title on Saturday in London.

However, she didn't have it all her own way.

Williams, 30, went into the final as the hot favourite against Agniewska Radwanska of Poland and looked like wrapping it up in two sets when she took the first 6-1.

But a brief shower then forced the players off the centre court and when they returned, Radwanska, 23, began to show more fight, to take the second set.

She had failed to attend a pre-match news conference because of a throat infection.

Williams eventually won 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. She served 17 aces.

Her previous wins at Wimbledon were in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010.

But she suffered a pulmonary embolism after surgery 16 months ago to repair a lacerated foot.

''I almost didn't make it a few years ago,'' Williams said afterwards. '''I was in hospital, but now I'm here again and it was so worth it. I'm so happy.

''Just never give up, you can continue. Thank you, guys in the box today, daddy, mum - I can't name everyone one, but thank you from the bottom of my heart.''

The victory makes Williams the oldest women's singles winner since Martina Navratilova won the title in 1990, aged 33.

Her older sister Venus has also won the title five times.

Doubles too

Together they won the women's double final on Saturday night, beating Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-4 in 78 minutes.

''It was a great day for all of us,'' said Venus, 32, afterwards.

The BBC reports it was their fifth Wimbledon doubles title together and 13th combined Grand Slam.

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand