US Open: Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka reignite women's tennis

Serena Williams (right) and Victoria Azarenka contested a superb US Open final

Serena Williams has won everything there is to win in tennis. Several times over.

However, judging by her celebrations after beating Victoria Azarenka to win the US Open for a fourth time yesterday, the delight of victory is stronger than ever for her.

In what was one of the greatest women's matches of recent times, Williams secured her 15th Grand Slam title by edging past the Belarusian, who at one stage served for the championship.

Azarenka left the stage surely full of regrets, but also with a new legion of fans who are sure to have taken to her in this gripping contest.

It was an exhilarating match which ebbed and flowed, but when it really counted, in the key moments, the American's experience and class told.

Williams was the heavy favourite to beat Azarenka before the match - despite the Belarusian holding the world number one ranking - due to her imperious form both leading into and during the championships, and the first set did little to defy the odds.

The 30-year-old breezed through it, with Azarenka seemingly overawed by the enormity of the occasion.

However, it didn't take too much longer for her to prove her worth.

After losing the first set 6-2, Azarenka took advantage of a nervy Williams to take the second set by the same scoreline.

The American has been prone to nerves in recent years on the biggest occasions, and they appeared to be getting the better of her again in New York.

Williams' unforced error count just kept rising and rising and the more the match progressed, the more likely it was that Azarenka would be triumphant.

The Australian Open champion raced into a 5-3 final set lead, which became 5-4 after the world number four held serve, meaning Azarenka was to serve for the championship. It was now or never for Williams.

Sure enough, she produced her best when she needed it.

Her movement was much improved and she hit a number of ferocious groundstrokes to take advantage of Azarenka's obvious nerves.

When Williams broke Azarenka to level the deciding set at 5-5 with a crunching winner, there was only to be one winner.

Almost inevitably, after two more straight games, the championship belonged to Serena again.

It had been a truly terrific final, and the first US Open women's final to go to three sets since Steffi Graf beat Monica Seles in 1995.

Too many women's Grand Slam finals are drab, one-sided affairs. Not this one.

This was a match to keep everyone hooked, right to the end, and it was just a shame there had to be a loser.

Williams showed her delight after triumphing

Azarenka was incredibly gracious in defeat, and remarked on how honoured she was to stand alongside the legendary Williams, but will leave New York full of regrets.

She was written off before facing the American due to Williams' blistering form, but proved herself more than worthy of the number one ranking with her gutsy performance.

However, it will be so hard for her to take the positives at the moment.

She served for her maiden US Open championship and eventually got blown away, so this loss will take some recovering from.

Azarenka has not been one of the most popular players on the circuit with fans due to her grunting and both the headphones and hoodie she wears prior to matches, but is sure to have won most people over in New York.

She has now proved her talent, personality and grace and should have a bright future, with plenty of more crucial Grand Slam meetings with Williams.

Women's tennis needs a rivalry like Azarenka vs Williams and, if both can remain healthy and maintain the same desire, they look like contesting many more finals.

Williams may have edged this one, but Azarenka has now proved she has the game to get under the American's skin and beat her, despite the 30-year-old's superior record in matches between the pair.

As for Williams, she is a legend of the game and will be looking for many more major titles over the coming years.

She will turn 31 later this month, which suggests she does not have so much tennis left in her, but she is such a phenomenal athlete she could continue at the top of the game for years to come.

Over the last few months, she has won the singles titles at Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open, as well as doubles titles with her sister Venus at Wimbledon and the Olympics, so Williams is on top form.

She didn't produce her best tennis on a consistent basis against Azarenka, but now she has laid her US Open demons to rest, she could go on to dominate the next couple of years.

In the middle stages of the final against Azarenka, Williams seemed incredibly nervous in front of her home crowd.

The unsavoury incidents which overshadowed her last two appearances at Flushing Meadows, with her outbursts during a semi-final with Kim Clijsters in 2009 and last year's final with Sam Stosur, were clearly playing on her mind.

However, this triumph has now put all that behind her and her desire, will-to-win and passion, along with her obvious talent, will surely take her to more major titles.

Williams deserves more respect due to her achievements and even more so when you consider what she has had to overcome over the years.

The death of her sister, a life-threatening illness and a childhood spent in a gun-infested neighbourhood are just three of the hurdles she has had to deal with.

She has had her issues on the court, for which she has been rightly criticised, but she is a legend of the game.

With 15 major titles and surely more to come, Williams will go down as one of the best women tennis players to ever pick up a racket.

Azarenka pushed Williams all the way in New York

Her story is all the more remarkable when you consider her sister Venus also has seven major titles to her name, although it now seems the elder sister's best days are behind her.

One of the defining images of Serena's victory over Azarenka will be the trophy presentations afterwards.

These two warriors, who had just slugged it out in one of the best US Open finals ever, stood side-by-side, smiling and laughing their way through the formalities.

It is clear there is immense respect and friendship between the two, and it appears this friendly rivalry is only at its beginning.

Azarenka and Williams aren't the only players lighting up the women's game at present.

Maria Sharapova is producing some of her best form, while Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani, Ana Ivanovic and Agnieszka Radwanska have all proved themselves to be more than capable.

Many will say Williams' recent triumphs mean she is the undisputed number one, but for now she remains the fourth ranked player in the world due to the consistency of her rivals.

The American still faces quite some challenge to reach the top of the rankings again, but you wouldn't bet against her arriving there again soon.

Williams will again be the woman to beat in the next major championship, in Australia next year, but Azarenka will now be more feared than ever before and looks set for a truly bright future.

But this day belonged to the incredible Serena Williams.

She is a fascinating athlete who has transcended her sport and continues to push the boundaries of possibility.

Williams may not have been at her best yesterday, but she hit an incredible amount of winners and somehow found a way to win.

A huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders and her star continues to rise.

This match has reignited women's tennis and there will hopefully be plenty more Grand Slam finals like this.

Whether they can have as much drama, quality and excitement as this one though is hugely doubtful.