NEW YORK — Serena Williams waited six years to return to the U.S. Open final.
The title match between two-time champion Williams and first-time Grand Slam finalist Jelena Janko- vic was postponed from Saturday until tonight because of heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Hanna.
The Williams-Jankovic match originally was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. EDT on Saturday, but about 3 1/2 hours before that, organizers announced they were shifting it. Eventually, the tournament announced play will start today at 9 p.m. EDT.
The men’s final was rescheduled from this afternoon to Monday at 5 p.m. EDT. 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 whether she was concerned that forecasts called 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.”
Williams is seeded fourth, Jankovic second, and the winner is assured of moving up to No. 1 in the rankings.
It’s the first time since 1974 that the U.S. Open women’s title match was not played on a Saturday.
