Serena, Thiem move into US Open semi-finals
Serena Williams battled into a US Open semi-final showdown with Victoria Azarenka on Wednesday as top Men’s seeds Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev booked their spots in the last four. Serena, seeded third, came from a set down to overcome unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova and keep alive her bid for a 24th singles Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
Later, Azarenka blew away Belgium’s Elise Mertens as she continues her hunt for a first Grand Slam title in seven years.
Serena’s comeback included two astonishing shots with her left hand that contributed to winning points.
A sluggish start saw the American lose the first set 4-6 but she fought back to take the next two sets 6-3, 6-2, in two hours 12 minutes.
Serena smashed 20 aces, the most she has had in eight years, taking her tally for the tournament to 64 so far.
The record for the most number of aces in a US Open in the Women’s singles is 70, set by Serena in 1999 when she won for the first time. In the last four she will renew
Later, Azarenka blew away Belgium’s Elise Mertens as she continues her hunt for a first Grand Slam title in seven years
her rivalry with former world number one Azarenka who demolished Mertens 6-1, 6-0 in just one hour and 13 minutes.
In the Men’s draw, Russia’s third seed Medvedev downed compatriot and childhood friend Andrey Rublev 7-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Twenty-two-year-old Rublev raced to a 5-1 lead in the firstset tie-break before Medvedev, last year’s US Open runner-up, hauled back to win it 8-6 with an ace.
Medvedev will play second seed Thiem who demolished Australia’s Alex de Minaur, seeded 21st, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
Fifth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany faces Spain’s 20th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the competition’s other semi-final.
- AFP