‘Crazy’ win for Serena, Raonic rolls
MASON, OHIO— Serena Williams overcame what she called one of her worst sets ever before beating Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday in her opening match at the Western & Southern Open.
It was Serena’s first action since she won the Rogers Cup in Toronto on Sunday, equalling a career high with her eighth singles title this season. She’s never done well in Cincinnati, though, reaching the semifinals just once.
“It was just really different conditions than Toronto,” she said, “and I always forget that it’s so different here. So it took me a while to get used to it.
“I have to get used to them because this is a tournament I don’t have on my roster. And if I play like today, I’ll continue not to have it.”
Williams committed 37 unforced errors in unseasonably cool, windy conditions against Bouchard, Canada’s top-ranked women’s player at No. 62. Twenty-two came off Serena’s forehand, including one that she won’t forget in that ugly first set on a centre court that seems to bring out her worst tennis.
“I even had the easiest approach shot and it went not slightly wide — it was like 50 feet out,” she said. “That was actually embarrassing. So I thought I’d never hit a shot like that professionally. I have maybe in practice with my eyes closed, but never conscious have I hit a shot like that.
“So it was just some crazy tennis out there.”
On the men’s side, Canadian Vasek Pospisil wasted four match points before losing to David Goffin in the second round: 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (6). Pospisil rose to 40th in the world rankings after reaching the semifinals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal. Goffin is ranked No. 80.
“I’m a little emotionally drained,” Pospisil said. “Maybe it’s good to rest before the (U.S.) Open.”
Later, Milos Raonic, the highestranked Canadian in men’s tennis history at No. 10, advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over Janko Tipsarevic. Raonic’s win was his third in as many tries over Tipsarevic, a day after he struggled somewhat in a three-set victory over American Jack Sock.
“I played better than yesterday,” Raonic said. “I was better from the baseline and created more opportunities for myself. It was a pretty clean match.
Raonic will face American John Isner next. Isner won their only other meeting in the Rogers Cup quarter-finals a year ago in Toronto.