Following a gap of five years, Serena Williams is back at the top of women's game after clinching a third US Open title with victory over Jelena Jankovic.

Williams secured a 6-4 7-5 victory on Sunday night in New York, a result which means she will sit atop the WTA rankings for the first time since August 2003 when the new list is published on Monday.

"I'm so excited," she told the crowd afterwards. "I wasn't even going for number one - it's like an added bonus."

The fourth seed, also a winner at Flushing Meadows in 1999 and 2002, did not have things all her own way though as Jankovic put up an impressive display in her first Grand Slam final.

The Serb had her chances, in particular in the second set, when he squandered four set points.

But in the end, it was Williams' famed fighting spirit, coupled with some terrific shot-making, which saw her through.

Jankovic actually started the better of the two players, securing the first break of serve to lead 2-1 as Williams produced too many errors in the early stages.

However, Williams hit back straight away and quickly turned the set around.

Four games in a row left her 5-2 up and although Williams failed to serve out the set, she simply broke Jankovic for a third time to take the opening set in 47 minutes.

But the real drama was to come in a 77-minute second set.

Jankovic's serve continued to come under threat and she was taken to deuce in each of her first three service games.

But the second-seeded Serb - playing a more attacking game than usual - managed to hold on and at 3-3 she took her chance.

Williams appeared unsettled by a Hawk-eye resolution - called by the umpire when the linesman was unsighted - which went against her. Had it gone in her favour Williams would have been 4-3 up. Instead a few points later she had been broken.

With the errors creeping back into the fourth seed's game, Jankovic was soon holidng three set points with Williams down 3-5, 0-40.

But that was when Williams proved just why she is regarded as the toughest competitior on the tour, saving all three with some dogged play.

A fourth followed in the next game though - this one on Jankovic's serve - but having battled back from 0-40 down the Serb produced an untimely double fault.

Williams didn't need a second invitation and finally took an epic game to level at 5-5.

Jankovic must have been suffering mentally and she cracked for the final time when serving to stay alive at 5-6.

She saved one championship point but on the second Williams ripped a stunning backhand winner past her before jumping repeatedly into the air to celebrate her victory.

In winning, Williams ended the host country's six-year wait for a women's champion - and reclaimed that number one spot she previously held for 57 weeks from July 2002.

Jankovic was left to reflect on missed opportunities, but admitted the result was justified.

"Serena was the better player tonight so congratulations for winning the whole tournament," she said.

"I was proud to be in the final but obviously disappointed I lost."