Serena Williams celebrates her win against Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska for her fifth Wimbledon title. Visit CNN.com/tennis for complete coverage.
(CNN) -- Serena Williams fended off a stirring fightback from Agnieszka Radwanska to win her fifth Wimbledon singles title with a 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory Saturday.
It was the 30-year-old American's 14th grand slam crown and her first since winning at the All England Club in 2010, but Poland's Radwanska made her fight every inch of the way.
Suffering from a respiratory problem and trailing after a one-sided first set, Radwanska recovered from a break down in the second to give Williams a real Centre Court scare.
After leveling at one set all, Radwanska took a 2-1 lead in the decider before Williams romped to victory with a run of five straight games.
She celebrated by climbing into the players' box to embrace her sister Venus and other close connections including her physiotherapist Esther Lee.
Serena Williams wins 2012 Wimbledon
Williams spent almost a year on the sidelines, being struck by first injury then serious illness after being laid low by dangerous blood clots.
Historic victories, crushing defeats at Wimbledon
A visibly emotional Williams showed how much victory meant to her in her post-match interview.
"I can't describe it. I almost didn't make it a few years ago. I was in hospital and I thought I'd never be here again, so this makes it so worth it," she said.
"It's all the sweeter. I was so down but you never give up. You have to continue," she added.
Williams has capped her steady return to the top with an emphatic performance on the grass courts, particularly since the quarterfinals where she dispatched reigning champion Petra Kvitova.
A semifinal win over Victoria Azarenka of the Belarus took Williams into the final, but Azarenka will have the consolation of going to the top of the new world rankings Monday.
Radwanska will rise to number two off the back of her fine run and has enhanced her growing reputation.
"I am very proud to have got to the final. I am still shaking but I tried, it just wasn't my day," the 23-year-old told BBC Sport.
"I have been unlucky here, playing in the wind and the rain, but I still played some great matches."
Williams, who wins $1.78 million, is the first woman over 30 to win Wimbledon since Martina Navratilova in 1990 and has now matched the Wimbledon singles tally of her elder sister Venus.
They later paired up to win their fifth Wimbledon women's doubles title, beating Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, 7-5 6-4.
The match finished under the lights just before 2300 local time and set the seal on a triumphant day for Serena.
She will now look to do the double again at the London Olympics which begin later this month at Wimbledon.
The intervening match on Centre Court saw unseeded pair Britain's Jonny Marray and Denmark's Freddie Nielsen beat Sweden's Robert Lindstedt and Romania's Horia Tecau 4-6 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-3 in a thrilling men's doubles final.
Marray, 31, is the first Briton since 1936 to win that title at Wimbledon, an omen perhaps for Andy Murray, who is attempting the same record in terms of years in the men's singles final against Roger Federer Sunday.
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Williams and Radwanska shake hands after the match on Saturday.
Williams reacts during a play against Radwanska. She finished the tournament with 102 aces, three times as many as the the next closest woman player, Sabine Lisicki, who had 34.
Radwanska hits a forehand return back to Williams.
Williams' mother, Oracene Price, center, finds shelter under an umbrella during a temporary rain delay.
Still held on the grass, Wimbledon has always been held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.
Radwanska reacts after a good play.
Williams serves during her final match against Radwanska.
Radwanska serves to Williams in the final match in the women's singles.
Radwanska, right, the No. 3 seed from Poland, took her place in a showpiece final for the first time in her fledgling career. Her opponent, 30-year-old Williams, also recorded a straight sets win.
Spectators in the royal box on Centre Court wait for the final match to begin on Saturday.
Radwanska rests on her chair during a break between games during the match against Williams. Radwanska won on her Grand Slam semifinal debut to become Poland's first major finalist in 75 years.
Williams hits a forehand return. The U.S. player is gunning for a 14th major singles titles.
The ground staff installs rain covers, causing a delay in the game.
"This is what I dreamed of since I was a kid," Radwanska said. "Everyone wants to reach a Grand Slam final. It is the best two weeks of my career."
Going into Saturday's final, Williams boasted 85 aces in this year's tournament, second only to German quarterfinalist Philipp Kohlschreiber, who has 98 to his name.
Ground staff rush onto the court to install the rain covers.
Spectators hide under umbrellas and rain jackets as protection from the rain. 
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