US Open

Displaying the talent and tenacity that allowed her to dominate tennis earlier in the decade, Serena Williams outlasted Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 7-5 Sunday night in a thrill-a-minute match chock full of marvelous strokes and momentum swings to win her third US Open championship and ninth Grand Slam title. And there was this "added bonus," as Williams termed it: She returns to the top of the rankings. "I think this title meant more to Serena than any title she's ever won," her father and coach, Richard Williams said. As the women met at the net when it ended, Williams felt compelled to say to Jankovic, "I'm sorry I got so excited."

Back at his best, back at the top of tennis, Roger Federer easily beat Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 Monday to win his fifth consecutive U.S. Open championship and 13th major title overall. Federer is the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win the tournament that many times in a row. He also moved within one major championship of tying Pete Sampras' career record of 14. The victory clearly came as something of a relief to Federer, who has struggled during a lackluster-only-for-him season. He lost in the semifinals at the Australian Open, and to nemesis Rafael Nadal in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon, meaning Federer was on the verge of his first year since 2002 without a major title. And his record streak of 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 ended last month when Nadal surpassed him.

I'm happy to see both Serena and Federer win. It wouldn't have bothered me much had either of them lost, but especially in Federer's case, I'm glad for the outcome. I was also happy to see Murray make the finals. He had never won even a set against Nadal before, so this is a big deal for him, and for the UK, who have been waiting for a champion of their own.