John is not moving on
What baby? Venus Williams advanced to the U.S. Open’s fourth round Friday, breezing past Greece’s Maria Sakkari, 6-3, 6-4, and refusing to broach the newest addition to the Williams world. Aware that sister Serena gave birth to a daughter prior to the match, Venus, the elder sibling, declined to talk about the birth that had the tennis world abuzz afterward, even when asked what went through her heart when she heard.
“I’m definitely available to answer questions about tennis,” Venus said when asked about the newborn at a post-match press conference. “That’s all right now.”
Williams, 37, reached the Round of 16 as the ninth seed by collecting her 74th match win at the Open. She first played in the tournament 20 years ago, and has steadied her strokes the last two matches after needing three sets to beat Viktoria Kuzmova in the opening round. Venus will take on Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro next. It is the first time in seven years that Venus has reached the fourth round of all four Grand Slams. She fell in the final at both the Australian Open
Top American John Isner heard plenty words of encouragement on a Friday night under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium — one that felt more like autumn than summer, and one that he’d go on to call “really frustrating” as most nights, he says, in this tournament are for him.
“C’mon, John!” echoed from the stands as the No. 10 seed appeared lost without his serve and seemed resigned to letting certain points get away from him against the 23rd-seeded Mischa Zverev, who had already bested Isner twice this year.
The home court wasn’t enough as the German lefty upset a struggling Isner, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (5), to advance to the fourth round.
“I just really wasn’t that comfortable,” Isner explained, adding that the court seemed a little slippery. “I had fallen short in that night match in that stadium every single time I’ve played. It happened again this year.”
The two would trade games each set before Zverev — despite any lingering exhaustion from playing 10 sets earlier this week — ultimately pulled away.
Isner forced a tiebreaker in the third set, after Zverev’s serve return sailed out in the 12th game, but was out of position on the final play.
“I felt like at times I was close. I really just couldn’t pass him; it’s what it comes down to plain and simple,” Isner admitted.
Entering the match with a tournament-leading 52 aces, Isner was unable to capitalize on his strength, committing seven double faults with 11 aces.
The 32-year-old American, who also appeared uncomfortable at the net, in many ways was his own worst enemy, with 41 unforced errors in the match while Zverev only had seven.
Isner did deal with a stiff neck, taking a medical timeout during the second set, but insisted “it wasn’t the reason” he lost.
Zverev, whose brother, Alexander, was eliminated in the second round, advances to face another American, No. 17 seed Sam Querrey. It was Isner who was expected to have an easy path in the bottom of the draw after No. 5 seed Marin Cilic was ousted earlier in the day. But now, he’s looking to forget the U.S. Open.
“I’d rather watch football,” Isner said.