Sports

Serena roars past No. 1 Azarenka to capture Open

... Victoria Azarenka (above) weeps following the women’s final.

… Victoria Azarenka (above) weeps following the women’s final.

WINNING FORM:Serena Williams cradles her U.S. Open trophy while Victoria Azarenka (inset) weeps following the women’s final. (Reuters (2))

The most nerve-racking moment for Oracene Price came not when her daughter, Serena Williams, was two points away from losing yesterday’s U.S. Open finals.

It came early in the second set when Williams was called for a foot fault — the same infraction that set her off against a lineswoman in the 2009 Open semifinals and got her disqualified.

“I was like ‘Lord have mercy,’ ’’ Price said laughing, “She didn’t go off. She was ticked, but she didn’t go off. She had to recover from that and not think of that last match.’’

This time, Williams didn’t lose her cool and, despite losing her momentum for a long stretch, she didn’t lose the match.

Williams lost the second set, fell down a break twice in the third set to No. 1 seed Victoria Azarenka and looked a step slow. But two points from losing the match, Williams came on like a raging bull, won the last four games and pulled out her first Open championship since 2008, fourth overall and 15th Grand Slam title.

So, there was Price, surrounded by two of her daughters, family and friends, outside the women’s locker room, everyone holding a goblet of Moet champagne to celebrate Serena’s achievement. No woman had ever won the Open 13 years after winning her first one.

It was a thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium — the first three-set Open women’s final since 1995. It capped the Summer of Serena, as she won Wimbledon, Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles and now this.

“I can’t believe I won,’’ Williams said at the trophy presentation. “I was really prepared for my runner-up speech because she was playing so great.’’

After Azarenka’s backhand went long on match point, Williams dropped flat on her back. She eventually got up, jumped up and down for several moments before heading to her player’s box to kiss her mother.

“It was like a burden was off of her,’’ Price told The Post. “She had been close before and one thing happened after another.’’

Williams was asked about the second-set foot fault and laughed. Though she ignored the call, she glared at the umpire on her walk to the chair when the game ended.

“This is the first year I haven’t lost my cool,’’ Williams said. “I think everyone thought about last year. That’s never on my mind, because I was just focused. I was just thinking, OK, which foot was it? So I would know not to do that again.’’

Though the fans rooted on the underdog Azarenka in the second set, the cheers were for Williams as she rallied in the third.

“I never expected to win all these titles,’’ Williams said of the summer. “ Everything has been so amazing.’’

Though the No. 4 seed, Williams was a big favorite and it looked as if it would be easy as she took the first set, hitting 16 winners in a 34-minute waltz. But Azarenka then took control, becoming a rock of consistency. The Belarusian appeared headed to her first Open crown as Azarenka served for the match at 5-4. The players took the court to a thunderous ovation and Azarenka wilted under the pressure.

“I never stopped competing no matter what,’’ said Williams, who hadn’t lost a set until yesterday. “I would have wanted to win easy. But this is more exciting to win.’’

Williams rocketed deep, consistent balls. Azarenka hit three unforced errors in the key game. Later, at 6-5, Azarenka served to force a tiebreaker, but Williams was locked in now and too good. Just as she was all summer.