It made a certain degree of sense that the last of the US Open quarterfinals would be a grudging, grueling affair. “I think that right now I can win matches like that”. She has also reached two US Open finals, in 2014 and 2009 – the only times she’s ever reached a major final.
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Serving impeccably through the quarters, Williams hit five aces and six double faults while amassing 31 unforced errors against Pliskova. But Wozniacki won earlier that year as well, so this one could go either way. The issue had been at the root of her early exit in Rio and her loss at Wimbledon, but over the last week and a half, Williams had settled back into a rhythm on the court, appearing nearly unstoppable.
While Williams continues to break records at remarkable rates, her crowning achievement arguably lies with a victory in the US Open final. Williams slowed down considerably at that point and failed to capture a single break of serve despite abundant opportunities.
Serena and Carolina met twice with each other and yet in their opposition to a draw 1: 1.
The encounter went on a single side in the opening set with Halep being unable to control her emotions thus letting Serena in charge.
Williams appeared to be digging in at the start of the second, driving a short ball straight towards Pliskova at the net and then roaring in celebration in her opponent’s direction. “I think there is a huge enjoyment in the three-set matches, but I just feel like you don’t get that appreciation until later”, she said.
Williams survived two double faults to start the next game.
The pressure was on Simona Halep’s shoulders, being pushed in her first service game and knowing Serena has the big serve to help her when she’s in trouble. Eventually, she closed the set by 6-3 setting a semifinal against Karolina Pliskova (11 WTA).
I didn’t play the same match in the first set or in the second, and my third set was better than the second.
She added: “I am a little bit disappointed that I could not take the chances, but I’m also happy about the way I stayed there and played”.
“I think my game was pretty good”.
Williams is scheduled to face Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals less than 24 hours after her three-set thriller against Halep.
Despite her dearth of Grand Slam success, Pliskova is playing with confidence after winning her biggest title to date on the hard courts of Cincinnati. She was only one game from the semis, so to close out the match, she loaded the cannon – her powerful serving arm – and served the match out easily, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
“My goal today was to beat Serena”, said Pliskova, not even thinking about Saturday’s championship match. She surrendered her serve in the third game and, although she had plenty of chances to break back – one game lasting more than 10 minutes, she was unable to convert and recover.
Having broken through to the quarters Pliskova didn’t waste her opportunity. She leads the head-to-head record with Wozniacki, but it’s close. Kerber won her first at the Australian Open earlier in the year.
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The top-seeded French team of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic advanced Thursday to the U.S. Open doubles final to take on No. 12-seeded Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova.
