Venus Williams beat fellow American Lindsay Davenport 4-6, 7-6, 9-7 to win the Wimbledon women's singles title for the third time on Saturday.

Venus, who was playing in her fifth final in six years at the All England Club, outfought the top seed and world number one in the longest women's final in the tournament's history to win her first grand slam title since the U.S. Open of 2001 and a fifth in all.

The 25-year-old, who also won Wimbledon in 2000 and 2001 before losing the next two finals to her sister Serena, has suffered from poor form over the last two years and was seeded 14th in the draw, making her the lowest seed to win the title in Wimbledon history.

Davenport, the Wimbledon champion in 1999, also lost when the two players met in the 2000 final and has now failed to win a grand slam since her Australian Open triumph earlier that same year.

Wimbledon 2005: Complete coverage