THIS IS the city where the more physical pain the contestant experiences, the higher regard they are afforded by the paying public. Normally that would mean Jelena Jankovic is treated like a heroine by the paying New York public but things are very different at this US Open, where Serena Williams is a woman on a mission.

Firstly the Serb admits to her great surprise that she is playing completely injury free – this from a player who has spent most of 2008 nursing a series of ailments. Secondly she stands as the sole obstacle to an opportunity for some much needed and long overdue American patriotism from a singles final and the chance for the younger Williams sister to reclaim what many see as her rightful spot at the summit of the world rankings for the first time in more than five years.

It has seemed that nothing is going to block her almost juggernaut-like progress back to the top and a third US Open crown; not big sister Venus, who may have got the better of the in-family contest during the Wimbledon final in July, and most certainly not the exhausted Dinara Safina, who could offer scant resistance in a one sided semi-final that saw Serena back to her snarling best.

With her 27th birthday approaching, the realisation that the number of chances remaining to reassert the dominance she took as matter of fact when she was in her pomp is seemingly clear to Serena. She didn't enjoy seeing her sister take the spoils at her expense at the All England Club. Finally after years of maintaining that her focus is exclusively back on tennis, it looks as though this time she really means it.

“Yeah, I have amazing will,” said Williams, looking her inquisitor squarely in the eye, almost daring him to come up with the sort of riposte that would have been swatted away by the sharpest of volleys. “I just love to win. I’m playing a lot more, having more consistent results, and putting in the effort. I think my results are finally showing.”

If Serena succeeds it will be her ninth career Grand Slam singles title and attained in the place where she collected her first major trophy nine years ago, in the days when she was a hair-beaded 17-year-old playing without any apparent pressure and with the sporting world in awe of her family’s astonishing story.

Since then her commitment has been repeatedly questioned and regularly put to the test. There was a career-threatening knee injury, the tragic murder of her half-sister and the distraction of other less demanding but possibly more rewarding activities, such as fashion design and acting. Throughout it all, her family seemed to be nothing other than supremely supportive but mother Oracene prepared for a return to the old days by admitting that things had not always been so cohesive in the camp.

“She’s working hard now, but it would have come quicker if she had worked harder before,” said the woman who repeatedly sits as calmly as Tim Henman’s parents used to at Wimbledon while her offspring battle to live up to expectations. “But both of them have other activities.”

The same could not be said of Jankovic, who can also reclaim the world No 1 spot with victory today, so displacing her compatriot Ana Ivanovic. She decided to forego a university place, fittingly on a drama course, to concentrate entirely on her tennis.

She has finally progressed to a major final at the 21st attempt, and frankly cannot believe her good fortune at not having any physical issues. Habitually one or more limb is swathed with bandages but a feeling of belonging in the top echelon seems to have eased her concerns.

Apart from a fourth round examination by the talented young Dane Caroline Wozniacki, she has progressed without trauma but has still spent more than three hours longer on court than her upcoming opponent, who has wrapped up all her matches in straight sets, at an average time of less than 80 minutes.

There is no lack of respect from the 23-year-old. “I think she [Wil-liams] is the strongest player on the tour, together with her sister,” said Jankovic, who has won as many matches as she's lost in their previous meetings. “Nobody has the power that they have. But I am so happy because this has been the first Grand Slam tournament that I don’t have any injuries and don’t have any issues bothering me. Sometimes I wasn’t thinking about tennis but just saying, ‘Oh, my God, that is hurting and this is bothering me’. I was really struggling, but now, finally, I’m healthy and I really want to do well. I'm really focused, I really believe in myself.”

The women’s final should have been played last night but will now go ahead at around 2am tomorrow morning, weather permitting.