Melbourne, Australia ? Serena Williams overcame a rib injury and rallied to defeat top-ranked Lindsay Davenport, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, to win the Australian Open women’s title today.

Williams stretched her winning streak at Melbourne Park to 14 matches and captured her seventh Grand Slam singles title, ending an 18-month drought. She also won here in 2003, but couldn’t defend the title last year because of an injured knee.

The seventh-seeded Williams, who fended off three match points in her semifinal win over fourth-ranked Maria Sharapova on Thursday, made a dramatic comeback after needing a medical timeout for a rib injury in the opening set.

After being tied 3-3 in the second set, Williams finished off the second set and raced through the third. Williams dropped to her knees and held both arms in the air after the victory.

Davenport, who won the last of her three Grand Slam titles here in 2000, won only eight points in the third set.

Lleyton Hewitt advanced to his first Australian men’s final Friday with a 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-1 win over Andy Roddick. He will meet Marat Safin, who defeated top-ranked Roger Federer, 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 9-7, on Thursday.