She’s back.

After struggling last season and knocked out by Justine Henin in the Quarterfinal, the younger Williams sister made a huge comeback in 2008, capped off by the straight set win in the Women’s Final over second seeded Jelena Jankovic , 6-4, 7-5.

“I’ve been working so hard all year,” said Williams, who is now the world’s No. 1 player. “Sometimes I wake up at like 6:00 in the morning to go practice and it was too dark. I would have to wait until it gets light. It’s just paying off. No one really, really knows the work that an athlete puts in. You know, it’s worth it. And then I felt like, Gosh, I’ve been working the hardest. I should win.”

It didn’t come easy as Williams had to fight Jankovic in the second set to seal the deal. Down 3-5 and 0-40, she was able to come back from the triple set point to take the next four games, giving her the win.

Using the skills that made her No. 1 five years ago, Williams was able to put the younger Jankovic on her heals, bowling her over during the latter stages of the match.

“I just got so positive. I was like, um, I really want to win,” she said. “All I have to do is break and hold, break, and hold, and break. I figured it seemed so simple, so I thought, Okay, all I have to do is win one point here and one point there, and I was ready.”

For her ninth Grand Slam win – and $1.5 million payday – the 27 year-old came out strong, winning the first set 6-4 and never trailing her Serbian opponent. The ease of her server and ability to make a strong return, which alluded her last year, didn’t give Jankovic a chance to even sniff victory in the first.

Then came the second and Jankovic was able to come back, ultimately serving for the set, but couldn’t close Williams out 0-40 and double faulted another set point later in the game.

Williams was able to take advantage of the Serb to ultimately win another Grand Slam.

“I want to get double digits [wins],” Williams said. I like that I’m at nine because I’m pushing for ten, and I feel like I can do it. I obviously play well all the time in Australia, so that’s coming up soon. I have to win another French Open and I love Wimbledon. I definitely had the game to do it. I love winning Grand Slams, so I look forward to it.”

Notes: Williams also won the Open in 1999 and 2002…She also won the Australian Open three time [2003, 2005, 2007] with one wins at Wimbledon [2002, 2003] and one at Roland Garros in 2002.

She seemed to have made the right choice.

Coming back in both sets against fifth seeded Elena Dementieva, 6-4, 6-4, the Serbian was able to advance to her first finals in her short career.

“The match is not over until it’s over, said Jankovic, who will face Serena Williams tomorrow night, weather permitting. “Until the end you are out there competing. You’re playing every point. So until it’s finished, you never know what’s going to happen.”

Well it did happen for her and Jankovic will now try to finish off a great US Open. Part of the reason she was so successful this year is health. A rash of injuries slowed her for most of the season, but not she feels like she is at the top of her game.

“It really takes off ‑‑ it really took me ‑‑ you know, I wasn’t thinking about, you know, tennis,” she said. “I was thinking, ‘Oh, my God, this is hurting. This is bothering me.’ So I was really struggling and really not playing my tennis and not thinking about my game. And now, first time, you know, this year, Grand Slam, I’m healthy and, you know, I really want to do well. I’m really focused, I really believe in myself, and I’m really going one match at a time.

“I’m really trying my best out there, and so I’m motivated. So I’m happy to be in the final for the first time.”

Her on the court play is showing it too. Although Dementieva went up 4-2 in the first set, Jankovic was able to come back and win and she was down in the second as well, but was able to ice it by serving at a 75 percent rate on the first try, having only one double fault and only 22 unforced errors.

Dementieva, on the other hand shot a 63 percent first serve with six double faults and 42 unforced errors.

Part of the reason she says she was so successful was because the injuries made her mentally tough, which forced her to step it up a notch.

“Mentally, I feel I’m a lot stronger, because I really believe in myself,” she said. “I really want to do this, and, you know, I think it’s about time for me to make that step forward to break that barrier and go a long way.

“I want to win a Grand Slam, and this is why I came here. Not having injuries, not having some problems, is giving me a good opportunity to be here, so I’m really thankful for that.”

And she may be thankful her opponent is Williams, who beat Dinara Safina in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. The fourth seeded Williams will have a fight on her hands with Jankovic as the two will face off tomorrow night. The winner of the finals will be then ranked No. 1 in the world.

One other battle will be the weather. Hurricane Hanna is coming up the coast, which may wash out tomorrow’s events. If that happens, then Sunday the Men’s Semifinals will start at 1 p.m. with third seeded Novak Djokovic taking on second seeded Roger Federer. That will be followed by top seed Rafael Nadal trying to continue his fine play against sixth ranked Andy Murray.

The women will follow at 9 p.m. on Sunday and the Men’s Finals will be Monday at 5 p.m.