The American superstar, seeking a record seventh US Open title, next faces Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, a 6-2, 7-5 victor over China’s Zhang Shuai. Not only has she surpassed Navratilova for most Grand Slam wins by a woman, she’s one match victory away from surpassing Roger Federer’s mark for men.
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She will next try and keep it going against Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, who Saturday was a 6-2, 7-5 victor over China’s Zhang Shuai.
Babos put a scare into Romanian fifth seed Halep, surging back in the second set and taking a 3-1 lead in the third before falling 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
The 18-year-old Osaka was so traumatised by her failure to convert her dominance into victory that she broke down in tears as she twice tried and failed to serve for the victory.
In the years after it was revealed in 2011 Williams had the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome, she struggled often in majors.
Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova backed up her shock victory over third seed and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza by making the last 16 for the first time with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine.
“Wow”, she said, laughing, when she was informed of this development during her on-court interview.
Also into the last 16 is Serena’s older sister Venus, who is due to meet her sibling in the semi-finals and, at 36, is the oldest player in the draw.
Serena’s next victory would push her past Federer’s total, likely generating more discussion about whether Williams is one of the best athletes, male or female, of all time. She is a very good player.
But she wilted under the raw power of Williams, who forced her into 32 errors and was gifted with 26 unforced miscues in the 78-minute match. He’s pretty good, so I expected a tough match.
“I knew at Wimbledon that I wanted to get there”. “I was really excited to (sic) 307”.
Whenever she decides to shut it down – listening to her Saturday, that time does not appear to be anytime soon – her accomplishments surely will be appreciated even more.
“I feel this design in particular really is kind of like a superhero design”, Serena said.
Polish fourth seed Radwanska accounted for Caroline Garcia in straight sets, while fifth-seeded Romanian Halep survived to beat Timea Babos in NY. “So far, so good”.
Wawrinka, a two-time Grand Slam victor and twice a semifinalist in NY, had the closest call, saving a match-point in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (8), 6-2 victory over Britain’s Dan Evans in a four-hour epic.
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.
“Wow. That’s pretty awesome, and honestly what a better place to do it than here, where everything first started”, Williams said after the match.
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“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.
