Serena Marches into US Open Final

NEW YORK: She screamed and then started jumping around. The match was over and Serena Williams had just taken an hour and 28 minutes to score a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Dinara Safina and that put her into the US Open final yet again.

It's bee six years since Serena was in this situation and the excitement was all to evident on the Arthur Ashe Stadium. She said she has really been putting in the effort and she has wanted this feeling for a long time. The US Open was the scene of her very first Grand Slam crown that was 1999.

"It feels like a long time ago," said Serena. "Doesn't really actually doesn't feel like that long ago, but when I look it's almost been 10 years. That's kind of weird. But it's good, you know. I just am excited to obviously still be here, and 10 years later still putting up a major fight. Well, nine years later."

She says she is way more consistent and that has come with playing more.

The conditions on court were just so difficult. It was incredibly windy and it made it tough to control returns. She said that made it hard to say if the match was as easy as the score indicated.

So many people over the years had put the shutters down on Serena. There was a feeling that she would not come back and reach the heights she had previously enjoyed but only one person really knew what she wanted and that was Serena. She wanted tennis. She wanted to play and be competitive and get back to the top. This year she has proven that to everyone. This is her second final at a major this year.

"I've always felt like my game is suited to withstand a long time and play for years and years," she said. "I feel like I've been saying I feel like I just started again, like I just feel so excited to be out there for every match."

She will take on Jelena Jankovic in the final. The Serb defeated Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-4 and this will be their seventh meeting. The head to head stand at 3-3. This year they have played twice - Jankovic won at the Australian Open and Serena won in Miami.

In addition to the US Open crown being on the line, the world numbr one ranking is also up for grabs.

"I'm here to stay," said Serena. "Like I said, I've really been enjoying my time on the court and playing a lot. You know, I think number one is not my goal right now.

"I know I'll get that eventually if I continue to play the tournaments. I just want to be able to win the Grand Slams, and, you know, play and stay healthy. And I think the ranking will definitely come.

"I love to win, and more than anything, I just love to win, so I think that wills me to do the best I can."

There is one major issue however going into the final and that is the weather. The prediction is that torrential and strong winds will settle in for the day. Hurricane Hanna is what will cause the problems and there is a great possibility that the final may not happen till a day later. Serena said: "Hopefully we can play. F not I'll be ready for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, doesn't matter."

By Craig Gabriel