Serena Williams showed incredible resolve to outlast Victoria Azarenka and secure her fourth US Open title.
The 30-year-old lifted her 15th Grand Slam singles crown -
and fourth in New York - with a 6-2 2-6 7-5 win in 138 minutes on Arthur Ashe
Stadium.
World number one Azarenka served for the match, but Williams broke in a run of four ruthless games to triumph.
She became the first player aged over 30 to win the US Open women's singles since Martina Navratilova in 1987.
"I honestly can't believe I won," said the American. "I was preparing my runner-up speech because she was playing so great."
Azarenka wept into a towel at the end as her dream of becoming the first Belarusian to win the US Open ended in agonising fashion.
"It's tough but Serena deserves to win," said the 23-year-old. "She showed what a true champion she is.
"I'm honoured to stand with such a true champion here. I definitely gave it my all today, stepping out of this court I have no regrets."
It was a dramatic end to an captivating encounter that suggests Williams remains the leading player in women's tennis and further cements her place among the legends of the sport.
The win comes 13 years after her first US Open title in 1999 - the biggest span of success by a female singles player in the Open era.
She is the fifth woman in the Open era to triumph four times in New York and now has a 15-4 win-loss record from her 19 major finals.
The result looked a formality as Williams blasted her way through the 34-minute first set with two breaks of serve.
An inch-perfect lob in game two drew applause from Azarenka, while a series of brutal winners in game eight epitomised her dominance.
World number one Azarenka served for the match, but Williams broke in a run of four ruthless games to triumph.
She became the first player aged over 30 to win the US Open women's singles since Martina Navratilova in 1987.
"I honestly can't believe I won," said the American. "I was preparing my runner-up speech because she was playing so great."
Azarenka wept into a towel at the end as her dream of becoming the first Belarusian to win the US Open ended in agonising fashion.
"It's tough but Serena deserves to win," said the 23-year-old. "She showed what a true champion she is.
"I'm honoured to stand with such a true champion here. I definitely gave it my all today, stepping out of this court I have no regrets."
It was a dramatic end to an captivating encounter that suggests Williams remains the leading player in women's tennis and further cements her place among the legends of the sport.
The win comes 13 years after her first US Open title in 1999 - the biggest span of success by a female singles player in the Open era.
She is the fifth woman in the Open era to triumph four times in New York and now has a 15-4 win-loss record from her 19 major finals.
The result looked a formality as Williams blasted her way through the 34-minute first set with two breaks of serve.
An inch-perfect lob in game two drew applause from Azarenka, while a series of brutal winners in game eight epitomised her dominance.
Having come from a set down to beat Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals, Azarenka knew she was capable of mounting a fightback.
Hope arrived with a Williams double-fault early in set two, and the American was further distracted by a foot fault in game three.
Azarenka had captured the momentum and she struck again for a 4-1 lead before comfortably levelling the contest.
It was the first US Open women's final to go the distance since 1995 and breaks were exchanged in a nervy start to the decider.
Azarenka made what seemed a decisive move when she punished an error-strewn Williams in game seven and held for 5-3.
The crowd noise rose to deafening levels and it had contrasting effects - Williams growing in belief, Azarenka wilting.
Williams produced a crunching forehand winner to put the set back on serve, levelled and then broke again when Azarenka netted.
A flurry of ferocious serves moved the home favourite to within a game of glory, and she was able to celebrate when Azarenka fired long.
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