Rain pushes Serena-Jankovic final to Sunday

It's first time since '74 that women’s championship not played on Saturday

	Spectators take shelter on Saturday.
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updated 8:15 p.m. ET Sept. 6, 2008

NEW YORK - Serena Williams waited six years to return to the U.S. Open final. What’s another day?

The title match between two-time champion Williams and first-time Grand Slam finalist Jelena Jankovic was postponed from Saturday until Sunday night because of heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Hanna.

Williams-Jankovic originally was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, but about 3½ hours before that, organizers announced they were shifting it. Eventually, the tournament announced play will start at 9 p.m. Sunday.

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The men’s final was rescheduled from Sunday afternoon to Monday at 5 p.m. It’s the first Monday final for the men at Flushing Meadows since 1987, when Ivan Lendl defeated Mats Wilander.

It will be Williams’ first U.S. Open final since 2002, when she beat older sister Venus.

After beating Dinara Safina in straight sets Friday in the semifinals, Williams was asked if she was concerned that forecasts were calling for rain Saturday.

“I don’t know if we’ll play tomorrow, but I’m ready to play tomorrow,” Williams said Friday. “Hopefully we can. If not, I’ll be ready for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday — doesn’t matter.”

She is seeded fourth, Jankovic second, and the winner is assured of moving up to No. 1 in the rankings.

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