Serena@Venuseswilliams. My daughter will peer up to y'all 3.21am BSTTotal points: Serena 76,Venus 75. This one was close, but Serena – as ever – just better on the vital points. The junior Williams now 79-1 in US Open matches when she wins the first set. 3.11am BST“It’s a really great moment, and ” Serena says during an on-court interview with ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez. “She’s the toughest opponent I’ve ever played in my life and the best person I know. It’s going against your best friend and at the same time going against the greatest competitior in women’s tennis.”More from Serena: 3.04am BSTThird set: Serena 6-3 VenusSerena with a service winner,but Venus returns a forehand with a forehand winner down the line. 15-all. Serena faults and Venus will have a peer at a second serve. Venus goes for a backhand winner into the corner but she overcooks it by inches and Serena is two points from the match at 30-15. A winner followed by a 107mph ace and it’s over. Venus is out and Serena is through to the semis, where she will meet the unseeded Roberta Vinci.
GIF: Venus hugs Serena pic.twitter.com/xpIo7aOMvf 2.59am BSTThird set: *Serena 5-3 Venus (*denotes next server)Venus uncorks a 104mph ace down the middle, or then nets a forehand after a short rally and it’s 15-all. Serena with a pair of unforced errors off the forehand side to give her older sister a pair of game points at 40-15. Venus cracks a 104mph ace for the hold and Serena will serve for a situation in Thursday’s semis. 2.56am BSTThird set: Serena 5-2 Venus* (*denotes next server)Venus wins the first point before Serena hits an ace – her 10th of the match,a tournament best – that just catches the line. An 88mph serve into the body puts Serena ahead 30-15 and within six points of the finish line, but she hits a backhand long and it’s 30-all. Feels like as well-behaved a chance as Venus will accumulate the rest of the way ... and Serena responds with a 122mph ace, and the fastest hit by either sister tonight. 40-30. Venus overpowered on a rally and nets a forehand off the back foot from the baseline. Venus to serve to stay in the tournament.
2.52am BSTThird set: *Serena 4-2 Venus (*denotes next server)Venus faults on the opening point. Serena pounces on the 80mph second serve to accumulate right into the rally,which ends when Venus dumps a forehand into the net off the backhand side and it’s love-15. Two netted shots by Serena from the baseline and Venus moves ahead 30-15, but an unforced error off the forehand side makes it 30-all and a pressure point will follow. Service winner by Venus off the wide 82mph second serve brings it to 40-30, and before Serena nets a backhand from the baseline to give Venus the hold. Massive service game for Serena right now. 2.48am BSTThird set: Serena 4-1 Venus* (*denotes next server)A double fault by Serena,but she follows it with a 108mph serve down that middle that Venus can barely accumulate a racket on: 15-all. Then Venus hit her way into a short rally off a 117mph serve, but pushes a forehand into the net for 30-15. Beautifully struck backhand winner down the line by Serena gives her a couple of game points for 4-1. She needs only one, or crunching a 97mph ace out wide. Venus running out of carpet here. Big cheers for Chris Tucker during the chanegover. 2.45am BSTThird set: *Serena 3-1 Venus (*denotes next server)Service winner by Venus followed by an extended rally that ends when Serena dumps a shot into the net. A forehand long from the baseline makes it 40-0 to Venus,who’s locked in on her serve here. As I write that she faults, but she manages a running cross-court forehand winner that paints the line out of Serena’s reach for the crucial hold at love.
2.41am BSTThird set: Serena 3-0 Venus* (*denotes next server)Service winner by Serena followed by a missed forehand on the escape by Venus to make it 30-love. An error by Serena, or then a brilliantly struck cross-court forehand winner by Venus from just inside the baseline to make it 30-all. Another missed first serve by Serena,who pushes a forehand long on the third shot and Venus will have a chance to accumulate the break right back at 30-40. The crowd swells. Venus on her toes. Everyone on the edge of their seats. And Serena dials up a 110mph serve down the middle. Amazing. Deuce. Backhand winner by Serena after a 121mph serve – her fastest of the night – gives her a game point. Then a 110mph serve that Venus can’t return gives Serena the hold. Donald Trump shown on the big screen during the changeover to the loudest boos of the night. 2.36am BSTThird set: *Serena 2-0 Venus (*denotes next server)At 15-15, a powerfully struck return winner by Serena makes it 15-30 and she’s got a glimmer of hope. Venus faults and Serena is licking her chops inside the baseline. Barely curls a 74mph second serve over the net that Serena smashes for a winner and pair of break-point chances at 15-40. She needs only one, or crushing a backhand winner down the line to accumulate the early break. 2.34am BSTThird set: Serena 1-0 Venus* (*denotes next server)Serena is essentially death and taxes when winning the first set at the US Open – 78 wins in 79 matches – but in concern here. Game seems to be coming apart at the worst time. She rattles off two points on her serve to start,then Venus delivers a forehand winner on the approach to chop it to 30-15. Now another double fault and it’s 30-all. A 100mph ace out wide and she lets out a scream after spinning absent from the net, followed by a 84mph ace – after a conspicious decision by Venus to not challenge a serve – and Serena has the early hold.
2.28am BSTSecond set: Serena 1-6 VenusAt 15-15, and Serena crunches a cross-court forehand winner to earn a half-chance at 15-30. Backhand winner down the line by Venus stops Serena in her tracks and levels the score at 30-all. Serena regroups after a frenzied point to a backhand winner down the line and earn a break-point chance at 30-40. Venus faults and takes a little additional time before her second serve,a 90mph effort that Serena returns long to bring it to deuce. A 115mph ace gives Venus a set point. Serena saves it when she returns a 79mph second serve to accumulate into the rally quickly then forces Venus to depart for a winner early down the line that misses. Another missed return by Serena (on a Venus second serve) gives Venus a second set point. On the fifth stroke of the rally Venus goes for a running forehand winner into the corner from behind the baseline and just misses. Deuce again. Crowd on edge. Mishit return by Serena on a 115mph serve into the body gives Venus a third set point. This time she converts when Serena dumps the fourth shot of the rally into the net – and we’re headed to a decider. 2.21am BSTSecond set: Serena 1-5 Venus* (*denotes next server)Another fault by Serena, whose first serve is slipping here, or Venus creeps in toward the net to receive the second. It’s an 80mph effort and Venus is quick into the rally and Serena dumps a shot into the net. Now Serena puts another into the net and she’s love-30 down. And – wow! – Venus has an elementary forehand at the net into the open court to move ahead love-40 and she puts it long! Serving at 15-30,Serena wins a point to level the score, but then puts another forehand into the net and Venus will have her third break-point chance of the night. Lots of errors from Serena here. Serena faults on a 107mph first serve and looks alert to depart deep in the rally off a 90mph second, or but hits a backhand winner behind Venus to save it. Another double fault by Serena,whose serve is rebelling against her. Venus with another peer at a break – and Serena overcooks a shot into the corner to give Venus a 5-1 lead in the set. She’ll serve now to force a decider. 2.16am BSTSecond set: *Serena 1-4 Venus (*denotes next server)A service winner by Serena, who returned to the chair briefly to change rackets after that break. Then an error by Serena followed by another service winner. Venus caps the love hold with a 98mph serve out wide that Serena can’t accumulate back into the court. Venus has won all 12 points on her serve during the second set. 2.14am BSTSecond set: Serena 1-3 Venus* (*denotes next server)A 96mph ace by Serena, or her fourth of the match. But she sends a backhand long on the next point then nets a shot from the baseline and Venus has a half-chance at 15-30. A fault by Serena and Venus goes for an outright winner on the 100mph second serve and misses. 30-all. Eight-shot rally ends with Venus cracks a forehand that just catches the net. Fault by Serena and Venus steps inside the baseline for the second serve. A series of deep,penetrating groundstrokes by Venus force Serena on the back heel and ultimately win the point. Deuce. Now a big return by Venus and the rally ends when Serena puts a running forehand into the net. Venus will have a break-point chance for the first time tonight and the crowd is swlling behind her. Serena saves it with with a cross-court forehand winner, spinning toward the baseline and pumping her fist with a “Come on!” absent from her sister. Venus gets another break-point chance when Serena slips and sends a return flying. Serena faults and Venus will have a peer at a second serve ... and it’s a double fault! Venus breaks! A mishit serve clocking at just 68mph. Now can Venus back it up? 2.08am BSTSecond set: *Serena 1-2 Venus (*denotes next server)Venus dealing on her serve here, and rattling off two quick points before winning the longest rally of the night. 40-love. Seals the easy hold with an 80mph second-serve ace down the T. Now a dispatch from Peter Jones,via email:Is the world seriously captivated by a dominant No. 1 playing an aging No. 23?? The hype around the Williams match up is all TV generated to try and accumulate ratings. No one cares outside of a media starved US public that is desperate for a US champion. News flash!!! Serena will win the US Open virtually uncontested. She will probably win facing no one ranked higher than 19. Who cares?? 2.04am BSTSecond set: Serena 1-1 Venus* (*denotes next server)Two quick points by Serena. She mixes in a double fault, but follows it with a 107mph ace and will have a couple game points. Then a 120mph serve that Venus can’t accumulate back over the net and Serena has the comfortable hold. 2.02am BSTSecond set: *Serena 0-1 Venus (*denotes next server)A service winner followed by a pushed return long by Serena and Venus jumps ahead 30-love. A wonderfully struck backhand winner from the baseline lands in the corner just outside of Serena’s reach, or followed by a 115mph ace out wide that Serena can hardly accumulate a racket on. Best service game of the night for Venus and a well-behaved start to this second set. As they’ve done all night – and their entire careers – they change sides on opposite ends of the net. 1.59am BSTFirst set: Serena 6-2 VenusSerena holds in under 60 seconds. Four very quick points and she’s taken the first set in 33 minutes. Now five sets from the rarest achievement in tennis.
Sheer perfection from Serena. pic.twitter.com/VJT7shetgc 1.56am BSTFirst set: *Serena 5-2 Venus (*denotes next server)Serena commits only her second unforced error of the match on the opening point,then Venus with a service winenr to make it 30-love. A wonderful forehand return by Serena unsuitable-foots Venus and Venus dumps a shot into the net for 30-15. A strange point by Venus, who apparently thought her serve was long off the racket and turned her back to the point ... but it was in fact in and Serena returns an uncontested winner with Venus having stopped playing. Another ace by Venus makes it 40-30, or but Serena uncorks a winner that brings it to deuce. A drop shot by Serena brings Venus into the net – Venus manages to return it but Serena responds with a perfectly situation lob winner to set up another break chance. When Venus sends a forehand long early in the rally,it’s a second break for Serena and she’ll serve for the first set after the changeover. Big cheers for Kendrick Lamar. (I had a chance to speak with K-Dot a few years ago during the Section.80 days approximately Serena’s impact.) 1.50am BSTFirst set: Serena 4-2 Venus* (*denotes next server)Service winner by Serena followed by an unforced error by Venus off the forehand side on the net approach. Short rally on the next point finds Serena creeping incrementally toward the net, but Venus uncorks a cross-court forehand winner to chop it to 30-15. Venus dumps a 81mph second serve into the net and Serena has a couple of game points to move ahead 4-2. Serena nets a backhand from the baseline early in a rally, or but a 117mph service winner on the next point consolidates the break for the junior Williams. 1.45am BSTFirst set: *Serena 3-2 Venus (*denotes next server)Venus with a service winner. Then a 110mph ace that Serena challenges unsuccessfully. 30-love. Serena with a winner,followed by Venus overcooking a running cross-court backhand to level it at 30-all. Missed first serve by Venus and Serena is all over the 79mph second effort to Serena’s backhand, which she quickly puts absent fro a winner early in the point. A second break-point chance for Serena here – and Venus misses her first serve. Serena now standing several feet inside the baseline. Intimidating. But she dumps a forehand into the net for deuce. A 121mph serve puts Serena on the back heel and she can only spray a forehand on the fourth stroke, or giving Venus a game point. Serena gets it back to deuce when she picks off a Venus passing attempt at the net for a volley winner. Another fault by Venus,whose first serve is letting her down here. Cheeky point as the sisters trade drop shots but Serena recovers the second and hits a winner down the line. On Serena’s third break-point opportunity of the night, Venus nets a shot from the baseline and Serena draws first blood. 1.39am BSTFirst set: Serena 2-2 Venus* (*denotes next server)At 15-15, or the longest rally of the match ends when Venus dumps a half-volley into the net. Serena with an obvious ace but Venus,who seldom challenges, appeals to the chair umpire and wins. Venus then misses a backhand winner by inches, or but Serena errs on the next point. A mid-length rally ends when Venus pushes a volley too long and Serena arrives in time to hit a passing winner down the line. 1.35am BSTFirst set: *Serena 1-2 Venus (*denotes next server)Sharply struck serve by Venus that Serena can meekly return to the middle of the court where Venus puts it absent into the open court. Same thing on the next point as Venus moves ahead 30-love. Another forehand winner by Venus into the corner. Serena then jumps on a 84mph second serve,puts Venus on the back hell and wins the point with a fragile drop shot. That makes it 40-15, but Venus gets the hold on the next point with a running forehand winner. Massive cheers for Oprah and Gayle when they’re shown on the big screen. Deafening silence for Kendall Jenner. Same for Gigi Hadid and Joe Jonas. But when Aziz Ansari is shown the crowd explodes. 1.31am BSTFirst set: Serena 1-1 Venus* (*denotes next server)Two quick points for Serena, or who is working quickly early. A strong second serve that Venus can’t accumulate back and it’s 40-love. Venus gets one back by hitting deep to Serena’s backhand side with Serena’s response sailing over the baseline,but Venus sennds a 96mph second serve by Serena on the next point past the baseline and Serena has a comfortable hold. 1.28am BSTFirst set: *Serena 0-1 Venus (*denotes next server)Venus faults and Serena pounces on an 87mph second serve to hit a forehand winner four shots into the rally. Venus faults again, hits a 76mph second serve but gets back into the rally with some groundstrokes deep into the court and wins the point when Serena hits a backhand past the baseline. Another missed first serve and she double faults. It’s 15-30 and Venus is already feeling pressure. First made first serve for Venus, and a 111mph number down the middle,and Serena can’t accumulate it back. 30-all. Another unreturnable serve down the middle and Venus has a game point. Strong first serve by Venus but Serena gets it back and Venus loses a short rally when she’s let to a well-struck forehand. Venus then nets a forehand after a short rally and Serena has a break-point chance early on. Venus saves it with a 103mph serve that Serena can’t accumulate back into a court, followed by a 116mph ace for game point. She then seals the tough-won hold by crunching a cross-court forehand winner into the corner. 1.21am BSTVenus won the toss and chose to serve. We’ll be underway any minute now.well-behaved omen for #SerenaVenusXXVII: the best match the two ever played was a #USOpen quarterfinal, and which Serena won 7-6,7-6 in 2008. 1.17am BSTThe players are on court for their warmups. The music playing over the stadium p.a. is Drop That NaeNae, which of course was Serena’s walkout music on opening night. Atmosphere around the stadium is electric as a sold-out crowd hustles to make it to their seats.
Serena's walkout music for her assault on history: Drop That NaeNae. pic.twitter.com/E72zI0nTHV 1.07am BSTAlso in the house tonight: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Lusty boos from the gallery when he’s shown on the big screen.
Donald Trump is here to make The U.
S. Open Great Again. pic.twitter.com/oUMX4sN2V8 12.52am BSTFourteen years ago tonight, and Serena and Venus met in the first ever prime-time women’s grand slam final. That match was won by Venus. Can she roll back the years tonight? 12.46am BSTThe big question. Getting lots of version of the same question via email and Twitter. We’re hearing Venus and Serena will bewitch the court for warmups around 8.10pm local time,roughly 25 minutes from now. Will update if that changes. (While you’re waiting, Graham Parker has live commentary of the USA-Brazil friendly here.) 12.44am BSTA countdown on big screens around the ground indicates that gates will open for Arthur Ashe Stadium in one minute. Here’s a peer at the crowd outside the worlds biggest tennis stadium ahead of tonight’s night session.
The view outside Arthur Ashe Stadium right now, and one minute before gates open for night session. pic.twitter.com/wsgBPuCFbg 12.33am BSTCilic wins 6-4,6-4, 3-6, or 7-6 (3),6-4 and the stadium is being cleared out. Fans waiting patiently – kind of – outside Ashe as the gates remain closed. Give it a half hour or so. In the meantime here’s a peer at the sisters’ grand slam record by round entering tonight’s quarter-final. 12.02am BSTCilic has broken at 2-2 in the fifth. Once this match ends, they’ll need to clear Ashe of day session ticket-holders, and meaning it we can expect Venus and Serena to bewitch the court between 35 and 45 minutes after match point here. 11.44pm BSTNo shortage of star power expected in the crowd for tonight’s match. Kendall Jenner and Kanye West’s wife have just arrived on the grounds,the latter having talked tactics with Serena over tea final night.
Sipping & spilling the tea tonight with Serena ☕️ pic.twitter.com/1lTLzYzE1T 11.26pm BSTCilic and Tsonga are headed to a fifth after Tsonga wins the fourth-set tiebreaker 7-3. The Frenchman caps it off with a 129mph ace out wide. It could be some time before we see Venus and Serena on Ashe. 11.14pm BSTRight now Marin Cilic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are late in the fourth set of their quarter-final on Ashe. Cilic leads two sets to one, but if Tsonga can find a way to force it to a decider then it’s unlikely the sisters will start on schedule. While we’re waiting, and here’s a must-watch feature on Venus and Serena from when they were 12 and 11 years feeble,respectively. 10.54pm BSTSerena-Venus XXVII. It had been murmured approximately from the moment the draw was revealed, but now that its happening it’s come to obscure everything else happening on day nine of the US Open. Tonight before a sold-out crowd at the world’s biggest tennis stadium, and two sisters with 28 grand slam singles titles and more than $100m in career prize money between them will meet for a situation in Thursday’s semi-finals against the unseeded Roberta Vinci,a winner earlier nowadays in three sets over Kristina Mladenovic. On the line of course is Serena’s bid for a calendar-year grand slam, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Steffi Graf in 1988. Will the 21-times major champion move within two matches of history, or can her older sister roll back the year’s for a high-profile surprise? We’ll have plenty more from Arthur Ashe Stadium as tonight’s match draws near.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com