FIVE-SETTERS PLUS ASSURANCE OF SERENA VS. VENUS WILLIAMS HIGHLIGHT DAY 3 AT THE 2018 U.S. OPEN TENNIS SLAM

Written by: Staff on 29th August 2018

FIVE-SETTERS PLUS ASSURANCE OF SERENA VS. VENUS WILLIAMS HIGHLIGHT DAY 3 AT THE 2018 U.S. OPEN TENNIS SLAM

epa06977314 Venus Williams of the US hits a return to Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in Arthur Ashe Stadium during the first day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 27 August 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE |

Venus Williams of the US hits a return to Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in Arthur Ashe Stadium during the first day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 27 August 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

By Ricky Dimon

It will be Serena vs. Venus in the third round of the U.S. Open.

That was always expected–and eagerly anticipated–when the draw for the season’s final Slam was revealed last Thursday. Now it’s a guarantee after the Williams sisters won their respective second-round matches on Wednesday. Venus took care of Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5, while Serena crushed Carina Witthoeft 6-2, 6-2.

“I wouldn’t say it’s exciting,” Serena said of the upcoming showdown. “But it’s definitely going to be a really tough match for me. Once again, it’s early in the tournament. You know, it is what it is.

“Unfortunately and fortunately we have to play each other. We make each other better. We bring out the best when we play each other. It’s what we do, so…. I think we’re used to it now.”

“It’s early in the tournament, so both of us are going to be looking forward to continuing to play better,” said Venus, who told the press to ask about something else following the fourth question she got about facing her sister. “Obviously, it’s definitely a tough draw.”

There is no such tough draw on the horizon for Rafael Nadal, who sailed through his second match on Wednesday night and remains a heavy favorite in the top half of the bracket. Nadal coasted past Vasek Pospisil 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to wrap up Day 3 in Flushing Meadows.

While the world No. 1 took any drama out of the night session, there was plenty of it earlier in the day. Five-set wins went to Dominic Thiem (over Steve Johnson), John Isner (over Nicolas Jarry), and Denis Shapovalov (over Andreas Seppi). In all three of those matches, the eventual winner came back from two sets to one down–and both Isner and Shapovalov had to survive fourth-set tiebreakers just to force a fifth.

“It was a struggle; really from the get-go,” Isner admitted. “I mean, he played well. He served well. I had chances. Five break points at 3-all in the fifth; disappointing not to break there. But I just kept plugging away.

“The fifth set was far and away the best I played the whole match. So that’s pretty encouraging, I think. It was a struggle at times, but I’m happy to get through.”

“It was pretty crazy,” Shapovalov said after outlasting Seppi about 30 minutes after Isner thwarted Jarry’s upset bid. “Yeah, it was long; it was long and physical. Obviously I feel tired now. I’m lucky I’m only 19 years old. I feel pretty good. I’ll be ready for Friday.

“But, yeah, through the third set, it was a little bit difficult. I had the break up, then my serve kind of fell apart. I let go (of) that set. I just told myself, ‘Listen, just pick it back up, fight for every point, just go out there and battle your heart out. That’s what I did, and got the fourth set 7-6. I used that momentum in the fifth.”

Shapovalov’s reward is a third-round date with Kevin Anderson. That’s a good one. Just not as good as Serena vs. Venus.