Flu-stricken Serena Williams revealed she called French Open officials to advise she may not make the final before dragging herself out of bed to deny Czech underdog Lucie Safarova in a gripping title match in Paris.
Now savouring a third triumph at Roland Garros after also reigning in 2002 and 2013, Williams ranks her success among the sweetest of her extraordinary career.
The oldest champion since 1958, the 33-year-old world No.1 said only her 2012 Wimbledon victory - which came after she'd suffered a life-threatening embolism - had been more satisfying.
"I can't believe I won, but it's cool. It's been a nightmare 48 hours," Williams said after overcoming nine double-faults and a mid-match meltdown to defeat Safarova 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 in a final full of twists and turns on Saturday.
"I still have to say Wimbledon is higher in 2012 because I really didn't think I could win another grand slam.
"But this is pretty high because I was out in so many matches; down a set, down a break, and I just kept coming back, kept fighting."
The top seed said she "barely made it home" after her dramatic three-set semi-final comeback win over Timea Bacsinszky on Friday.
"I took a hot shower, I went to bed and then I didn't leave bed until, like, four or five yesterday (afternoon)," Williams said.
"I was just thinking, I have to go for a walk. This house is making me sick. I have to get out. I have to get some air.
"I went for a walk. Came back. Got worse.
"So I talked to all the doctors here and the physios here. I even told the physio: `I'm not sure I'm going to be able to play'.
"I called the WTA lady and said `I don't think I'm going to play'.
"So I think that's pretty close (to pulling out)."
But go out and play she did, and Williams' fighting win lifted her above 1920s legend Helen Wills-Moody into outright third place on the women's all-time grand slam leaderboard.
Only Australian Margaret Smith Court, with 24 majors, and Steffi Graf (22) remain ahead of Williams, who could well match the German's open-era record haul by the end of the year if she pulls off a rare calendar-year sweep of the four slams.
"You guys are forgetting that I have won the last three grand slams," Williams said.
"You've got to keep focusing on this calender thing. (I'm) three quarters of the way to a Serena Slam."
That too.
But after landing the French Open in such a dire state, Williams will be a raging favourite to snare a sixth Wimbledon trophy next month and then a seventh title at the US Open in September.
Such a scenario would draw her level with Graf and have Williams attempting to become the most successful player in open-era history when she arrives in Australia to defend her crown at Melbourne Park.
"That would be exciting," Williams. "I love Melbourne. I just can't wait to get there."
In an extraordinary display of longevity and domination, Safarova was Williams' 12th grand slam final victim.
Her first scalp was Martina Hingis way back in 1999, in New York.
Since then, Williams has also accounted for older sister Venus - on six occasions - as well as Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina, Justine Henin, Vera Zvonareva, Agnieszka Radwanska, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki in grand slam finals.
Her only defeats in 24 major finals have come against Venus, Sharapova and Australian Samantha Stosur at the 2011 US Open.
After losing all eight previous encounters with Williams, Safarova threatened a huge boilover on Court Philippe Chatrier on Saturday after stealing the second set and opening up a 2-0 buffer in the decider.
Ultimately Williams' class and vast experience came to the fore as the top seed rallied back to reel off the last six games to take the thrilling match after two hours and one minute.
She earned 1.8 million euros ($A2.6 million), taking her career on-court earnings to almost $90 million, while Safarova consoled herself with a cheque for 900,000 euros ($A1.3 million) and a rise to a career-high world No.7 on Monday.
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