THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE – KEYS AND SERENA HIGHLIGHT OF DAY 3 AND DAY 4 PREVIEW BY ROS SATAR

Written by: on 3rd September 2015
US Open Tennis
THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE – KEYS AND SERENA HIGHLIGHT OF DAY 3 AND DAY 4 PREVIEW BY ROS SATAR

epa04908237 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus serves to Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic during their match on the second day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 01 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/JASON SZENES  |

Starting off Day 3 was Madison Keys, playing on Arthur Ashe for the first time. Fair to say there were no nerves as she dominated Tereza Smitkova in the first set. When her game is on, she is a joy to watch. She has an effortless power and off the court, she has a self-deprecating nature that can make press conferences quite entertaining, such as establishing that thankfully she had not literally died of the flu in Eastbourne!

 

Madison Keys of the US hits a return to Tereza Smitkova of the Czech Republic during their match on the third day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 02 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

But behind that is a desire and ultimate frustration that has made for some pretty heart-breaking meltdowns – but when she keeps those emotions under wraps you get a good sense of where the future of USA women’s tennis could be heading. In fairness, Smitkova looked to be every bit as distressed as we have sometimes seen Keys and it is never a fun thing to see a player hat upset, but do not underestimate the intimidation factor of Ashe Stadium!

 

We feel the need to perhaps pen a eulogy to the poor humble tennis ball. It lives with its brothers and sisters in a dark, cold tin before seeing the light of day, and then… has the cover batted clean off it with shoulder-shuddering serves and fearsome forehands from Keys.

 

One thing to note, and I appreciate 11am is rather early, but for Keys’ debut on Ashe, the crowd spread was a little thin for one of their own, as Madison-the-Merciless roared home to a 6-1 6-2 win in under an hour! Great debut on Ashe, and into the third round for the first time.

 

The buzz surrounding ESPN’s mid-match interview of Coco Vandeweghe has split opinion. Is it a distraction? Is this the way the sport is moving? Well one thing was for certain, after going 0-5 down to wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands, she did one of the most epic of racquet smashes that ESPN producers may well be reconsidering this latest ploy to get inside tennis players minds! She must have felt better for the battering, as she managed to get a couple of games on the board before Mattek-Sands decided enough was enough and rounded out the match proving her wildcard was well warranted 6-2 6-1, and the rest of us feared for the safety of the rest of Vandeweghe’s racquets.

 

Something that was not in the script of impending history was Kiki Bertens building up a 3-1 lead against Serena Williams in their opening set. But this is not an issue – for Williams to carve out history she should be tested. A champion needs to dig deep, and bargained on nerves when Bertens eventually served for the set at 5-4, breaking to level. With constant looks of anguish as her serve seemed to phase in and out like a Star Trek red-shirt on a dodgy transporter, she threw in four double faults on the way to a vital hold for 6-5.

 

Even after building up a lead in the tie-break, perhaps nerves hit the Dutchwoman again as Williams strung together five straight points to come back from 1-4 down and with the help of a lucky net cord, Williams scrapped out the first set, but not at all convincingly.

 

With an early break secured at the start of the second set, the struggle continued to seem very real as Williams,with Bertens gamely battling on. That was anything but easy for Williams but she got the job done, 7-6(5) 6-3.

 

Picks for Day Four

If you have tickets for Ashe, you have a treat, and that’s just the day session! Kicking off we have Victoria Azarenka v Yanina Wickmayer – it’s safe to say that the Belarusian is back to her more feisty ways, giving the chair umpires a piece of her mind, but more importantly moving far better now after a break having retired in Cincinnati.

She is still out pick for a plethora of surprises – can you call a 20th seed a dark horse? I don’t know but expect her to keep ploughing through the draw for now.

Azarenka in 2.

 

Simona Halep v Kateryna Bondarenko

As we saw – an early retirement on the other side of the net may not always be the best for a player, and we shall see whether Halep struggles as much as Serena did in her second round. However we think the scrappy Romanian has re-discovered her groove for now and is still looking strong in that half of the draw.

Halep in 2.

 

Caroline Wozniacki v Petra Cetkovska

The smiley Dane was another of the autumn hard court season walking wounded, but she looked very solid in her opening round, as well as gate-crashing John Isner’s press conference after he kept her waiting for the start of her media obligations.

Wozniacki in 2.

 

Petra Kvitova v Nicole Gibbs

Gibbs will have the crowd rooting for her in the last match on Louis Armstrong, after getting off to a swift start in her opening night match. The conditions never favour the big hitting Czech, and it has been hot and humid in Flushing Meadows this week, but maybe later in the evening will suit her again.

Kvitova in 2.

 

We’ll also be keeping an eye out on Wimbledon finalist Garbiñe Muguruza as she takes on last British woman standing, Jo Konta – the Spaniard has yet to win back to back matches since Wimbledon whereas Konta won two ITF titles and three rounds of qualifying already. Match tight, this could be another three-setter for the pair who split one win each between them.

 

Another of the tour favourites Andrea Petkovic dug herself out of a hole against Caroline Garcia, and faces Elena Vesnina who mounted a fantastic third set comeback against Laura Robson. Tough one to call but this could well be another three set scrap.

 

Today’s Tennis Tidbits

Madison Keys hit her personal bests in Grand Slams this year with her win over Tereza Smitkova – reaching the Australian Open semi-final, French Open third round and Wimbledon quarter-final this year.

Serena Williams by the numbers: 30-match Grand Slam winning streak (she last lost to Alize Cornet in the third round of Wimbledon 2014). She is on a 23-match winning stream at the US Open (last lost to Sam Stosur in the 2011 US Open final).

It was a good day for USA tennis all round, with Mattek-Sands, Keys and Serena joined by Madison Brengle, with Venus Williams still to play on day three.

Agnieszka Radwanska hit a century – no not cricket (although, you know… some of those ninja shots of hers…) – She won her 100th Grand Slam match in despatching fellow Pole Magda Linette and sets up a mouth-watering clash against Madison Keys, whom she beat in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

 

Ros Satar is a regular contributor to 10sballs.com and runs Britwatch Sports (@britwatchsports), because we Brits like watching sport. Occasionally we’re good at it.

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