( CNN ) -- Serena Williams retained her U.S. Open title with a hard-fought 7-5 6-7 6-1 victory over Victoria Azarenka in a gripping final at Flushing Meadows Sunday . The world No.1 was thoroughly extended by Azarenka before clinching her 17th grand slam crown in two hours 45 minutes of enthralling action on a windswept Arthur Ashe Stadium Court . Williams , who twice served for the championship in the second set , made no mistake at 5-1 in the decider , taking advantage of her second match point when her opponent from Belarus hit long . It ended brave resistance from the second seed , who had trailed by two breaks of service in the second set before hitting back to win a tense tiebreaker 8-6 . Fifth title in New York . But Serena was not to be denied her fifth U.S. Open title , opening up a double break advantage in the third set , which this time she was not to relinquish . At 31 she is the the oldest winner of the hard court grand slam in the Open era , and the American acknowledged just how tough a match she had been given . `` Victoria you played unbelievable , '' Williams said . `` What a great match and a great person . It 's an honor to play against you . '' she told the crowd after winning her second grand slam title this year , having also lifted the French Open in June . Azarenka , beaten by Williams in the final in New York for the second straight year , admitted a second defeat was hard to take . `` It 's a tough loss but being in the final against the best player , who deserves the win , it 's incredible , '' the Australian Open champion said . `` I gave it everything I had . I fought hard but well deserved . Congratulations Serena . '' Bumper check . Williams picked up a check for $ 3.6 million , including a $ 1 million bonus for winning events in the build-up to the final slam of the season -- though she lost to Azarenka in the Cincinnati final last month , just one of four defeats for her in 2013 . She is the first woman to successfully defend the title since Kim Clijsters in 2010 , and was runner-up in the 2011 final in New York . Williams had lost only 16 games in six matches as she cruised to the final , but Azarenka was made of sterner stuff and after dropping her service in the very first game , immediately broke back to set the pattern of the final . Williams finally broke through again in the 11th game and served out for the opener , but hopes of a straight sets victory were dashed by another stirring Azarenka fightback . Williams looked on the verge of tears after her failure to close out the match and threw down her racket in frustration as Azarenka leveled at one set all . Great champion . But great champion that she is , Williams quickly regained control to the delight of the 20,000 spectators on the show court . Earlier Sunday , Leander Paes became the oldest man to win a grand slam title when he paired with Radek Stepanek to win the men 's doubles title . The 40-year-old Indian and his Czech partner , the fourth seeds , beat Alexander Peya of Austria and Brazil 's Bruno Soares , the second seeds , 6-1 6-3 . Paes and Stepanek were winners of the 2012 Australian Open title and had ended the hopes of top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan , who were hoping to complete a calendar year grand slam , in the semifinals . Paes had won the U.S. Open title with Martin Damm in 2006 and Lukas Dlouhy in 2009 , and now has eight men 's doubles trophies at the majors as well as six mixed doubles crowns . `` I think the best advice I can give to anyone for doubles is get a partner from the Czech Republic ! '' Paes told the official tournament website . `` Radek helped me to get to be the oldest man to ever win a grand slam in the Open era . I thank him for that , and we are definitely not done . I 'm going after 41 now , 42 , and then 43 . '' On Monday , top seed Novak Djokovic and second-ranked Rafael Nadal battle for the men 's title .
Serena Williams wins U.S. Open title at Flushing Meadows . Beats Victoria Azarenka in final 7 - 5 6 - 7 6 - 1 . First grand slam title for the 17 year old Serena . Leander Fritz of Germany sets grand slam milestone in men 's doubles .