Like a scene from a Rocky movie, Venus Williams [Images] scraped herself off the floor to beat Lindsay Davenport [Images] in a primeval battle of wills and claim a third Wimbledon title on Saturday.

After nearly three hours of brutal destruction in front of a spellbound Centre Court crowd, the American triumphed 4-6, 7-6, 9-7 in the longest, and one of the most dramatic, women's finals in Wimbledon history.

Her compatriot Davenport served for the title in the second set and had a match point deep into the tumultuous decider but 14th seed Venus, written off before the tournament, hit back to snatch victory with some inspired tennis.

"I'm so excited ... I just managed to last a bit longer than her," said Venus, whose last Grand Slam triumph was the 2001 US Open. "I always felt like a champion in my heart."

Venus double faulted on her first match point. Seconds later an exhausted and limping Davenport buried a forehand into the net to hand a disbelieving Venus victory.

Initially stunned, Venus was still screaming and jumping round the court minutes after the last point had been played.

"I've always felt my destiny was to win Grand Slam titles," said the ecstatic 25-year-old, who had lost her last five Grand Slam finals, all to her younger sister Serena.

"I was so excited, I could have jumped for a bit longer."

Davenport, who in January lost the final of the Australian Open to Venus's sister Serena, will remain as world number one but that will be scant consolation after coming so agonisingly close to ending her five-year wait for a major.

"When the chips were down she came up with some unbelievable tennis," said the 29-year-old. "It was great and exhilarating. I don't feel like I've got anything to hang my head for or feel ashamed of. She fought hard, she was great."

BASELINE POWER

Having played 26 times in a rivalry dating back to 1997 both players knew exactly what to expect from each other.

Dinked drop shots, subtle slices and cute angles were strictly prohibited as they went for each other's throats from the start with ferocious baseline power.

Davenport, who lost to Venus in the final five years ago, roared into a 5-2 lead in the opening set as her opponent, who reached the final without dropping a set, struggled with her serve and an error-riddled forehand.

Venus rattled off the next nine points to close the gap but Davenport made no mistake at 5-4, clinching a slow-burning first set that rarely hinted at the drama to come.

Davenport disputed a line call at 4-4 in the second set when a Venus first serve was not called out -- the offending delivery striking the erroneous line judge on the head.

"You understand you really have to try harder," she told umpire Gerry Armstrong.

That was forgotten two games later when Venus, down 15-40 on serve, slipped in the corner and threw up a flailing racket in desperation as Davenport thumped a winner.

Serving for the match, Davenport was then sent reeling by a barrage of Venus winners as she broke back to love and then galloped into a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak before a clubbing forehand squared the match.

BACK INJURY

Davenport had won their previous four clashes and when an exasperated Venus slugged a forehand wide to drop serve at 2-3 it looked as though that run was going to continue.

However Davenport squandered two points for a 5-2 lead and Venus hit back to 4-4, at which point Davenport disappeared off court for an injury time-out, the result of a back problem.

When she returned her movement was laboured but she courageously held on to her serve.

A wild Venus double-fault at 30-30 in the following game gave Davenport a match point but she could only watch as Venus swiped a backhand winner.

Playing on pure instinct, Davenport was two points from victory with Venus serving at 6-7 but she was left bent double and gasping after losing an exchange of baseline bullets that defied belief.

She came under attack at 7-7 and this time a pumped-up Venus edged ahead in the match for the first time since the opening game, battering a winner past her lunging opponent on her third break point.

Davenport looked beaten and although she was given a life when Venus wobbled with another double fault at 40-0, there was no way back as she hit a tired forehand into the net.

"I felt like she deserved it," said Davenport after the two hour, 45 minute epic. "Maybe next year I can improve on this.

"But gosh, that's a long way off. I really don't know [if I'll be back], I have no idea, I hope so."

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