The world No 1 has never lost before round three at the US Open and, with Beyonce and Jay-Z watching in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, she was delighted to reach Navratilova’s mark.
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Indoors or outdoors, night or day, rain or shine, it has made little difference to Williams at the US Open. Looming like ominous rain clouds was the historic pressure of getting the calendar Grand Slam and living up to her tour domination.
Williams’ troublesome right shoulder has held up well so far but she admits it is a constant battle.
Grand Slam singles victories in Serena Williams’ career since she turned professional in 1995 – a record.
Murray, however, played with the rain drumming on the $150 million retractable roof, adding to the noise that has always been a hallmark of America’s Grand Slam.
Vinci had nothing to lose, and Serena clearly felt the weight of trying to ride out a lackluster performance that was anything but her usual confident self. But she put any doubts about her fitness to rest after cruising to victory.
“Usually when people are there, I try to play better, especially if they’re famous and they’re doing so great at their job”, Williams said. “You know, I’m here and I’ve been playing sports and I’m an athlete”.
“I just think it should have been a different scoreline for me”.
Serena Williams and Johanna Larsson have met only twice before, both times in 2013, with the American winning in straight sets each time.
The Dane, a US Open finalist in 2009 and 2014 but unseeded this year after being sidelined for two months by an ankle injury, dominated from the start and wrapped up victory in just under an hour and a half. There is more noise with the roof, but, I mean, if its not raining, its OK.
“What really matters is I got the win”. “I knew at Wimbledon that I wanted to get there”.
The American was not at her best but still proved too strong for King, the world number 87, comfortably progressing with a 6-3, 6-3 success under the roof at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Serena’s sister Venus also booked her place in the next round as she beat Julia Görges of Germany 6-2, 6-3, while fourth seed Agnieszka Radwańska of Poland came through a tough opening set before overcoming Britain’s Naomi Broady 7-6, 6-3.
However, Williams couldn’t capitalise with a tame forehand unforced error heading into the net, and a backhand error from King handed Williams another match point, and the top seed didn’t waste the second chance by claiming the match with a forehand victor in the corner to clinch victory, 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour and 4 minutes.
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She had just 17 unforced errors – in complete contrast to the whopping 63 in her first-round win.
