NEITHER ILLNESS NOR opposition could stand between Serena Williams and a 20th Grand Slam title, as she beat Lucie Safarove in three sets to take the French open title.
The world number had been suffering with flu since her semi final win against Timea Bacsinszky on Thursday, and had been unable to practice since.
However, she showed no signs of letting the illness get to her, as she beat the 28-year-old Czeck to claim her third title at Roland Garros.
Safarova battled back from 4-1 and 40-15 down to win the second set - through a combination of some classy shots and Williams’ woes on serve - but the imperious American regained her composure and was not to be denied yet another triumph on a sunny day in Paris.
Williams, despite being a break down in the deciding set, recovered to win six games in a row to take the match 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2.
She adds what is her third French Open title to the five Wimbledon’s, six Australian Opens and six US Opens she’s won since her first Grand Slam at this tournament back in 1999.
Serena is now just two Grand Slams short of Steffi Graf’s open era record of 22, with Austrailan Margaret Court holding the overall record on 24.
