Work pays off as Serena on cloud nine

SERENA WILLIAMS earned her ninth grand slam title by winning the US Open final then claimed she was the hardest working woman in tennis.

The fourth-seeded American, who did not drop a set in the tournament, persevered through a tough second set to secure her first Flushing Meadows crown in six years with a 6-4 7-5 victory over second-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic.

Williams, who won US Open titles in 1999 and 2002, won a final that was originally scheduled for Saturday but had to be pushed back a day because of heavy rain and wind from tropical storm Hanna.