Agnieszka Radwanska was no easy opponent, but there was no stopping Serena Williams from earning her fifth Wimbledon title on Saturday.
Relying on her determination and dominant serve, Williams defeated Radwanska 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in cementing herself as one of the greatest female tennis players in history.
While many critics were quick to say that the 30-year old Williams was on the downside of her career following a first round exit at the French Open, a victory at Wimbledon shows that she is still one of the best players in the game.
Her comeback on the court is undoubtedly great, but it is perhaps her overcoming of health-related problems that is the most impressive part about Serena Williams.
In a New York Times article, Serena's father Richard Williams describes her fight through a second surgery on her right foot and a trip to the hospital with blood clots in her lungs, among other issues.
I’m happy that she’s winning, but the main thing for me right now is I’m just happy she’s alive, and I think I’ll feel that way the rest of my life about her...because she was so close to dying that it was unbelievable, and I really believe there was a time when Serena felt she would die, too.
In the past week at Wimbledon, Williams' play has been so reminiscent of her younger days that we forget all the turmoil that she has been through.
Williams broke her own tournament record for aces in a match with 23 against Zheng Jie in the third round and promptly defeated that number with 24 against Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals.
It was by no means an easy tournament for the sixth-seeded Williams as she had to defeat defending champion Petra Kvitova before ousting the second-seeded Azarenka.
There isn't enough that can be said about the courage and determination that it has taken for Serena Williams to get to this point in her career.
Her victory at Wimbledon marked her 14th Grand Slam singles title, good for sixth most all-time and the most among active players.
With the drive and focus Serena showed at Wimbledon, there is no reason to believe that her career will end with her stuck on 14.
What Serena Williams proved on Saturday at the All England Club is that she has to be considered one of the favorites to win every single tournament she enters.
When the Williams sisters' illustrious careers are over, you can bet that there will be countless movies and documentaries dedicated to the achievements of these two girls from Compton, California.
Until then, we will have to settle for watching the inspiring play of one of women's tennis' greatest players, past and present.
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