“To be up there with both men and women is something that’s super rare, and it actually feels good”, Serena said. “Like a really powerful, strong character that is strong, but yet isn’t afraid to be soft at the same time”.
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That eye-opening self-assessment by Williams reminded of the days when Woods, after vanquishing yet another field of the world’s best players en route to winning a tournament, would say he won with his “B” game that week.
“Definitely feels solid”, she said. In the victory, Serena won 82 percent of her first serve points and 68 percent of her second serve points. She had a half-dozen aces, bringing her total this week to 31.
The Pole will duel for her first quarter-final berth at Flushing Meadows against Ana Konjuh in a rematch of a Wimbledon second-round clash in which Radwanska saved three match points before finally dispatching the Croatian.
To that end, Larsson covered an average of 5.2 feet per point, while Serena was at 4.2 feet as she dictated the action throughout. Her reply: “I prefer the word “one of the greatest ATHLETES” of all time”.
“I’m stronger mentally and I don’t give up any more during the matches, even if I’m down”, added Halep on her improved mental toughness.
“There is no pain”. The Swede was clearly over matched, as Serena Williams had to exert very little energy in pounding her off the court. “I knew at Wimbledon that I wanted to get there”.
Other duels for places in the last 16 see men’s third seed Stan Wawrinka, a two-time Grand Slam champion and a two-time semi-finalist in NY, take on 64th-ranked Briton Daniel Evans while sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori, beaten finalist in 2014, plays France’s Nicolas Mahut. “If they see something good in my game, that’s important, because I’m showing a good game at the moment”. In my career I have just been, you know, here for so long.
Shvedova advanced to the round of 16 in NY for the first time by beating Zhang Shuai 6-2, 7-5.
“Every match is different”, she said when asked about facing the Czech’s big serve. Murray beat Paolo Lorenzi, a 34-year-old player from Italy.
“That means everything”, Radwanska said of a chance to advance to the round of 16 in Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career. “But I think Serena is even more risky”.
She was surprised by the variety Williams displayed Saturday, especially with some heavy-spin, high-bouncing strokes.
The American sixth seed said: ‘It’s just a lot of willpower.
Williams’ sister Venus stayed on track for a semi-final showdown with Serena, beating 26th seed Laura Siegemund of Germany 6-1, 6-2. At 36, she was the oldest woman in the field.
“I beat (Gael) Monfils here last year, I beat (David) Ferrer this year”. She opened up to a 3-0 lead in the first set against an overmatched Larsson and never looked back.
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“She played an unbelievable second and third set and didn’t miss at all”, said Halep”. It all ended just a few points later when Babos double-faulted on match point. “I started to feel better more consistently this year, so I’m always trying to find things to help me feel my best”.
