BSP-02,03 It’s all Serena in all-Williams US Open clash

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It’s all Serena in all-Williams US Open clash

NEW YORK, Sept 1, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Serena Williams turned her 30th career
meeting with her sister Venus into a one-woman showcase Friday, reaching the
US Open fourth round with a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Reluctantly rising to an occasion neither sister enjoys, Serena said she
played her best match since she returned in March, more than six months after
giving birth to daughter Olympia last September 1.

“I played much better tonight than I have since I started this journey on
my way back,” said Serena, although she wasn’t sure she’d agree with Venus’s
assessment that it was the best match she’d ever played against her sister.

“I think it’s by far the best match I ever played against her in forever,”
she said. “But I don’t know about ever, ever.”

Either way, the scoreline equalled Serena’s most lopsided victory over
Venus, and took her head-to-head record against her sister to 18-12.

“She played so well, I never got to really even touch any balls,” Venus
said. “I don’t think I did a lot wrong. But she just did everything right.

“Obviously that level is definitely where she’s going to want to stay
during this whole tournament.

The most dramatic moment of the contest came when Serena rolled her right
ankle in the second game. She took a medical timeout at the next changeover
to have more tape added the bandage she was already wearing under her sock.

There was no sign she was affected as she romped through seven straight
games.

“It feels good for the match to be over with. Win or lose, it just feels
good that that’s done,” said Serena, who showed none of her usual ebullience
on court even as she belted 34 winners and 10 aces.

When she sealed it with a forehand winner, the sisters met at the net for a
hug then walked to their chairs before Serena acknowledged the crowd with a
wave.

MORE/SSS/0954 hrs

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“It’s not easy,” Serena said of facing Venus. “She’s my best friend. She
means the world to me. Every time she loses I feel like I do.”

Since falling to Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final, Serena had
endured erratic results in the hardcourt buildup to the US Open.

But she looked every inch a contender to claim a record seventh US Open
crown that would see her equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles.

Serena will try to take the next step when she takes on Kaia Kanepi for a
place in the quarter-finals.

The Estonian, who toppled world number one Simona Halep in the first round,
defeated Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

– Stephens advances –

Defending champion Sloane Stephens, at No. 3 the highest seed left in the
draw after the exits of Halep and world number two Caroline Wozniacki, booked
her fourth-round berth with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over former world number one
Victoria Azarenka.

Up a break in the final set, Stephens had slipped behind 4-3 when a light
shower prompted officials to close the Ashe Stadium for the first time this
week.

Both players had a chance to leave the court and the break refreshed
Stephens, who came back to win the last three games in the “super-cool”
atmosphere of the closed stadium.

“It kind of felt like a night match with the lights on and everything,”
said Stephens, who said the break allowed her to “refocus”.

“I played much better the last three games,” she said. “I competed. When
things got tough, I just hung in there, battled as hard as I could, ran down
every ball.”

Stephens will face 15th-seeded Belgian Elise Mertens for a place in the
quarters after Mertens beat Czech Barbora Strycova 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

Seventh seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina beat China’s Wang Qiang 6-4, 6-4
to set up a meeting with Latvian Anastasija Sevastova, a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 winner
over Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

BSS/AFP/SSS/0955 hrs