ROS SATAR REVIEWS U.S. OPEN LADIES FROM HER POINT OF VIEW, INCLUDING SERENA & VENUS WILLIAMS’

Written by: Staff on 5th September 2015

ROS SATAR REVIEWS U.S. OPEN LADIES FROM HER POINT OF VIEW, INCLUDING SERENA & VENUS WILLIAMS' |

The Nightly-(re)Cap – Serena Williams v Bethanie Mattek Sands

We said it could be Williams’ toughest test, under the lights on Ashe – and we were right. Mattek-Sands wasted no time in announcing her intention, running out three games on the trot as Williams once again had a sluggish start.

The World No. 1 almost found out to her cost that sluggish starts against equally aggressive players spells trouble (not to mention a bit of a thriller) on Ashe! Mattek-Sands had needed a wildcard to get into the US Open, after injury blighted her 2014, but she certainly repaid that in full, taking the game to Williams right from the get-go, and with her own pretty darned impressive doubles record, she was sharp as tacks at the net.

But never count Williams out. From 5-3 in the second, the World No. 1 had to dig deep when Mattek-Sands levelled for 5-all, making pundits rather jumpy that all their “history being made” narratives were going to go for a burton!

Williams is as Williams does, and let me stress I say this with nothing but respect for one of the greatest athletes in the world. She pulled out eight games on the bounce, to close out a 3-6 7-5 6-0 win, but the standing ovation went to Mattek-Sands. Deservedly.

“She stepped up,” Mattek-Sands told reporters after the match.

“She’s just a great closer. She always has been. She gains momentum and gets pumped up, pumps herself up, and that’s why she’s able to close matches out really well. I did my best today to try and stop her, and it wasn’t quite enough.”

Williams assessed: “I knew that I could play better, so I guess knowing that always helps me start playing better,” Williams said. “If I’m down and I’m playing well, then I probably won’t win, but if I’m down and I feel like I’m not playing well, I know I can take it to another level. I know that I can play better. I just try to tap into the energy and I try to start playing better.”

Next up for Williams is Madison Keys, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 6-2, and who she faced for the first time this year at the Australian Open.

Day 6 Round-Up

When she is good, she is very very good – to whom am I referring? Two-time Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova. Up against a pretty tricky customer in Anna Schmiedlova, at a time of day when the heat and humidity is building, Kvitova made impressively short work of the Slovakian in the first set.

With many predicting a reappearance of a much-loved nickname of P3tra (her way of describing her miraculous three set come-back wins) she went on to confound us all by taking the match by the scruff of the neck and shaking it about! It has been such a tough year for the Czech – exhaustion, a break and then discovering she had mono and having it affecting how she even plays at a Slam – it is really good to see her enjoying some success here – really lovely smile at the end of the match, and hasn’t dropped a set yet – 6-2 6-1.

The weather has been brutal and it really seemed to catch up with Andrea Petkovic, against Britain’s qualifier Johanna Konta. Edged out of a tight tie-break, suddenly Petkovic looked decidedly wobbly on her pins, and had to have the doctor out as they tried to cool her temperature down rapidly with iced towels.

Petkovic refused to call it quits, admitting she thought Konta might get tight, but also out of respect for her opponent that she took to the court and would see it through.

“Once I decide to play, that’s it out of respect to everyone.”

With a 7-6(2) 6-3 win, next up for the Brit, apart from cannoning up the rankings just behind current British No. 1 Heather Watson now, will be Kvitova.

There have been some words scribed about former US Open champion Sam Stosur having to scramble for transportation to the courts. I hesitate to criticise, as (in my humble opinion) no competitor in the final Slam of the year should struggle for transport, but come on now people – this is one of your champions!

Anyhow, out on the soon to be demolished Grandstand Court, the 2011 champion set about meeting the challenge of Sara Errani who could scramble for all of Europe. After a tight first set went to the Aussie, Errani found her groove, but in the end it was the Stosur who nabbed her first win over the Italian since 2012, 7-5 2-6 6-1.

Our closing match from the day session was the hugely anticipated match-up between Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber. The Belarusian has been a danger in the draw now as she climbs back up the rankings, but Kerber was looking sharp and slick around the court. While Azarenka seemed to be hunting for her rhythm, Kerber was all over the court as kept the pressure on to take the first set. Never back Azarenka into a corner – one set point was well and truly trumped by the six break points Azarenka toiled over to creep back into contention (except not so much creep as bludgeon and batter). What a turnaround, as it was Azarenka’s time to serve out for the first set, making it four games on the spin.

As if to dispel the memory of it all, Kerber found herself once more at 5-2 up in the second set, and this time she made no mistake as she levelled the match.

The intensity and quality of the final set was outstanding. After trading breaks at the start of the decider, it was Azarenka that got a second break to put her in the driving seat as the pair continued to play such a game of cat and mouse, the RSPCA would have to be called for cruelty to animals!

Kerber’s ability to find winners in the face of a second match point was extraordinary – saving five match points to finally take the game and force Azarenka to serve it out. If someone could bring me some fresh finger-nails to gnaw on, I would be grateful. When the end came, a serve out to love it was almost an anti-climax as yesterday’s night match and today’s were incredible tennis – 7-5 2-6 6-4. And mark my words – Azarenka is one to watch next week.

Day 7 Match Pick

Serena Williams v Madison Keys

We started with Serena and we’re going to end with her, as she faces Madison Keys for the second time this year in a Slam. Let’s cast our minds back to the start of the year, where after defeating Venus Williams, Keys went up against the World No. 1 and she gave her a pretty good go in the first set before succumbing in straights.

Serena has not looked sharp in her last two matches, and there is every opportunity for her to be pushed once more. Keys seemed to handle the pressure back at the start of the year, but since then perhaps the expectations of her to perform after reaching her first Slam semi-final had told. Injuries, illness and her own quest for perfection often leave her in distressing turmoil on the court, and she will really need to hold it together to bring her best to the party.

Serena in 3

Venus Williams v Annet Kontaveit

While it would be easy to brush aside the qualifier as an easy win for Venus, we say again – just take a look at Konta’s progression. Venus (on her day) can be majestic. If it is not her day, it can be an unholy mess of unforced errors. But with the prospect of a Williams’ quarter-final – it is worth keeping an eye on this one.

Venus in 3

On a more serious note, especially as the news of a 13th withdrawal on the men’s side, Genie Bouchard pulled out of the women’s and mixed doubles – she slipped and fell in the locker room, sustaining a head injury and withdraw on medical advice. She is yet to make a decision on her singles – just at a time when her game seems to be picking up, but as we have seen all too often, you cannot mess around where head injuries are concerned. She is scheduled to play on Sunday as the last singles match on Armstrong, but it will be understandable if this results in a walkover for Roberta Vinci.

Night Match Tidbits

· Shelby Rogers will fly the home flag today on Ashe when she takes on World No. 2 Simona Halep – she is in to the third round for the first time too – and we saw what happened to Jo Konta! (She’s another qualifier too!)

· With seven Americans through to the third round, this has been the best showing by US women at a home Slam since 2004.

· With Halep’s second win, she joins Serena Williams as the second singles player to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore.

· Halep is teaming up with countryman Horia Tecau to play Mixed Doubles for the first time – with the Olympics just around the corner – it makes sense.

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.

Topics: 2015 US Open, Ros Satar, Serena Williams, Tennis News, U.S. Open tennis, Venus Williams, Wta

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10sBalls_com says:

September 5, 2015 at 5:12 pm

@rfsatar REVIEWS @usopen LADIES FROM HER POINT OF VIEW, INCLUDING @serenawilliams & @Venuseswilliams’- http://t.co/JIDVYT6fqm #USOpen2015
rfsatar says:

September 6, 2015 at 12:49 am

RT @10sBalls_com: @rfsatar REVIEWS @usopen LADIES FROM HER POINT OF VIEW, INCLUDING @serenawilliams & @Venuseswilliams’- http://t.co/JIDVYT…
yarrumydna says:

September 6, 2015 at 2:06 am

RT @10sBalls_com: @rfsatar REVIEWS @usopen LADIES FROM HER POINT OF VIEW, INCLUDING @serenawilliams & @Venuseswilliams’- http://t.co/JIDVYT…