Serena Williams survives Safarova scare to lift 20th major title

Serena Williams became only the third player in history to win 20 major singles titles as she survived a huge scare to defeat Lucie Safarova at the French Open.

The American, who had been struggling with flu-type symptoms in the lead up to the contest, held off her Czech opponent's stunning second-set fightback to claim a 6-3 (2)6-7 6-2 success and lift the Roland Garros trophy for the third time.

"It was complicated, Lucie played very well, she's a superb opponent, she was very aggressive," said Williams.

"I got a bit nervous, but it's alright, it's a dream for me. To win it (the 20th grand slam) here is special for me because I don't always play very well here."

On a sun-kissed court Philippe Chatrier, it looked as though the spectators would be heading home in good time as Williams took an early stranglehold on the match.

Safarova had not lost a set in her run to the final but struggled to impose her game early on, with Williams looking rejuvenated and much more mobile than in her semi final against Timea Bacsinszky.

The top seed broke in the fourth game of the opener and rarely appeared troubled as she clinched it with some untouchable serving in just 31 minutes.

There seemed to be no let up for Safarova as she was immediately broken again at the start of the second and in the fifth game.

But 13th seed Safarova dug in and clawed the double break back courtesy of some generous double faulting from her opponent to take four games in a row.

Williams re-focused and took it to a tie-break where she was resoundingly beaten 7-2.

Safarova moved in front for the first time in the match when she broke and consolidated at the beginning of the decider, but it only served to re-energise Williams whose use of verbal profanity seemed to spur her on as she won six games in a row to take the title in two hours and one minute.

"It's been a great two weeks here for me," said Safarova.

"Serena you were amazing, you are a great player and a great fighter."

Serena is now just two Grand Slams away from matching Steffi Graf's Open Era record tally of 22 Grand Slam titles, and four away from catching Australian legend Margaret Court's all-time record across the eras.

And given her imperious form this season - where she has won both Grand Slams so far despite having illnesses at each - there seems little reason to think that anyone will beat her at either Wimbledon or the US Open.

Wimbledon is perhaps her biggest challenge, considering that it is three years since she won on the grass of SW19.

But if she claims a sixth title in London, she will have all the confidence in the world heading into the final Major of the season: Serena has six US Opens already, and hasn't been beaten at Flushing Meadows since the 2011 final.