Final score: Williams wins 6-4 7-5

Second set: Williams 7 Jankovic 5

Williams pulls level at 30-30, again coming forward to put away a smash. A crunching forehand then produces an error from Jankovic and it's championship point. The net cord helps out the Serb though - a Williams shot loops up off the tape given Jankovic extra time to save the match point. She does so. Game point is then squandered by a fourth double fault of the match from the Serb and when she nets a backhand, Williams has another chance to seal the title. This one is taken with a blistering backhand winner, a shot which prompts jumps of delight on the court from Williams. Serena is the champion in New York for the third time and will be back on top of the world rankings whe the new list is published on Monday.

Second set: Williams 6 Jankovic 5

Some strength-sapping rallies, leave Serena taking plenty of time between the points. Jankovic doesn't like that. At 30-30, she doesn't like the outcome of the next point either. It's the rally of the match and ends with Jankovic going wide, forced into the error by some superb hustling from Williams at the net - she just refused to be lobbed. The Serb follows it by complaining to the umpire - that doesn't go down well with the partisan crowd. Williams seals the game on the next point with a tremendous backhand volley. She's now just one game from victory.

Second set: Williams 5 Jankovic 5

Serving to level the match, Jankovic quickly finds herself in trouble. Serena puts away a smash and then sees her opponent double fault. A backhand winner brings up three break points. However, all three are saved - the last one sees Williams go inches wide with a forehand. A fourth chance follows but this one is netted by the American. Then a fifth - Williams goes wide! At last Jankovic finds her first delivery and produces an ace to bring up another set point, this one on her own delivery. But she double-faults! On the next point, a drop volley from Williams bounces twice before Jankovic can get it back. It's a sixth break chance and this one is taken, Serena's forehand forcing Jankovic to stretch to her left and she can't control the shot. It's back to 5-5. That could prove to be an absolutely crucial game.

Second set: Williams 4 Jankovic 5

This time it's Jankovic who goes for the body and wins the point. Two errors from Williams' racquet follow and she's down three set points. But she finds her best tennis at the right time, digging herself out of trouble with that famous determination. Jankovic appeared to be in control at 30-40 but Williams hung tough to bring it back to deuce. She pushes on to take the game and now it's up to Jankovic to serve this set out.

Second set: Williams 3 Jankovic 5

Williams hits back from 30-0 to 30-30 but then a big serve from the second seed is followed by a forehand into the net from Serena. It's 5-3 now.

Second set: Williams 3 Jankovic 4

Controversy at 40-15 as Williams plays a shot when the linesman is unsighted. She feels it is out and the umpire - Briton Alison Lang - decides to use Hawk-eye herself to check the shot. The ball was in and it's back to 40-30. Perhaps that affects Williams as she is soon break point down after going wide. And when she nets with a poor drop shot, Jankovic has the first break of the set. Can she now force a decider? We are about to find out.

Second set: Williams 3 Jankovic 3

There's some brutal hitting from both players - the normally more passive Jankovic has really taken it to Williams tonight - but it's Williams who wins the exchanges to bring up two break points at 15-40. Both are saved before two errors from the fourth seed see Jankovic hold. She's been to deuce in all three service games so far in this set but Serena has yet to break.

Second set: Williams 3 Jankovic 2

A double fault followed by a long backhand get Williams off to a shocking start. However, with the aid of some big first serves, she shows her steel by reeling off the next four points to move 3-2 ahead.

Second set: Williams 2 Jankovic 2

Williams proves her never-say-die attitude by running down a lucky net cord only to then be lobbed. Some hit-and-miss tennis from Jankovic see the scoreboard tick on to deuce. Williams then misses with a forehand before going just long. It's 2-2 and the Serb is hanging in there. First set Williams remember.

Second set: Williams 2 Jankovic 1

Jankovic is left with her head in her hands after an excellent rally which ends with Williams winning the point at the net. The Serb replies by winning an epic rally of her own - raising her hands to take the plaudits afterwards - but Williams holds to 30, sealing a 2-1 lead with a faultless smash.

Second set: Williams 1 Jankovic 1

It's not a good start for the Serb - she's soon 0-30 down. And when she pulls a forehand wide it's two break points to Williams. Jankovic, audibly frustrated wth herself, digs deep to save both. She eventually closes the game out after some powerful hitting from the baseline from both women. A massive hold for Jankovic - can she now push on?

Second set: Williams 1 Jankovic 0

Jankovic employs some moon-ball tactics in the opening game of the second set but it fails to work. Serena wins the game to love. Jankovic badly needs a hold now but she has done that only twice in five attempts so far.

First set: Williams 6 Jankovic 4

Williams gets some help from the net cord on the first point and then all of a sudden it's three set points. One is saved but then Jankovic sends a forehand long. The Serb makes a forlorn callenge to Hawk-eye but it's in vain and Serena takes the first set.

First set: Williams 5 Jankovic 4

Another double from Serena sees her slip 0-30 down again and then a poor drop shot sits up for Jankovic to hit a backhand pass. Two break points are saved but then another error from Williams - this one on the backhand slice - means Jankovic is still very much in this first set.

First set: Williams 5 Jankovic 3

Superb reactions from Jankovic get the crowd on its feet at the start of the game. Williams goes for a body shot but Jankovic manages to get the ball back on the volley for a winner. However, Williams hits back to force deuce. However, two netted groundstrokes from the two-time champion mean she will have to serve the set out.

First set: Williams 5 Jankovic 2

Williams twice pulls shots into the tramlines to fall 0-30 down but an error from her opponent and then the match's first ace pull her level. A 120mph service winner and then a volley at the net see the game out. No need to panic there Serena fans. 5-2.

First set: Williams 4 Jankovic 2

At 30-30 Jankovic double faults to bring up break point. Williams then takes it the hard way. She comes forward at first but can't finish the point only to then drive an excellent forehand winner into the corner from behind the baseline. 4-2 she leads now.

First set: Williams 3 Jankovic 2

A superb backhand winner into the corner from Jankovic is the best shot of the game but it's the only point she wins. A missed overhead by the Serb helps Serena take the game and move ahead once more.

First set: Williams 2 Jankovic 2

Williams fights back from 40-0 down to deuce. Then a crunching drive volley brings up break point. Jankovic then goes long and it's back to 2-2. This is reminiscent of Williams' start to her semi-final against Dinara Safina when she began slowly but stormed back to take the first set and then the match.

First set: Williams 1 Jankovic 2

The first doule fault sees Williams slip to 0-30 and then a backhand wide brings up three break points. A poor backhand into the net then hands Jankovic the first break. She leads 2-1. Too many errors from the favourite at the moment.

First set: Williams 1 Jankovic 1

The Serb holds to 30. Given this is her first Grand Slam final, Jankovic has been a solid start. Her length fell a little short in that game on a few points but Williams miscued some of her groundstrokes and failed to take advantage. Jankovic will need to keep her strokes deep tonight.

First set: Williams 1 Jankovic 0

A decent start with some solid hitting from both players at the back of the court. Williams moves to 40-15 with some big serves but Jankovic forces deuce. Williams eventually takes the game a crucnhing forehand setting up a backhand winner. 1-0 Serena.

Coin toss: Jankovic wins the toss and it looks like she has opted to receive. The warm up will now begin. It's 26 degrees tonight and the forecast is, thankfully, for no rain.

Pre-match: The players have just taken to the court, Jankovic in a yellow outfit, Serena in her red dress. One point worth noting is that tonight's winner will not only take the title, but they will also claim the world number one ranking.

Pre-match: Anita Baker has just got the crowd warmed up by singing 'America The Beautiful' on the Arthur Ashe Stadium. There's always plenty of ceremony on finals day at Flushing Meadows and the American flag was paraded beforehand.

Pre-match: Welcome to our coverage of the US Open women's singles final between Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic. Home hope Williams starts as the hot favourite after a superb tournament so far which has yet to see her drop a set. However, the pair have met six times before with the meetings split 3-3, although Williams did retire from one of those clashes, all of which have taken place, like tonight, on an outdoor hardcourt. Two of the meetings have taken place at a Grand Slam, the latest coming this year at the Australian Open where Jankovic prevailed 6-3 6-4. Williams has since gained revenge by winning a three-set battle in Miami.