US Open 2021: Serena Williams through after battle with Sloane Stephens

Six-time champion Serena Williams fought again from a sluggish begin to beat fellow American Sloane Stephens and attain the final 16 of the US Open.

“It was intense, we all the time have some unbelievable matches,” stated Williams.

Williams, aiming for record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, will face Greek 15th seed Maria Sakkari within the final 16.

Sakkari, 25, beat Williams within the three units on the Western and Southern Open final week.

Williams gave a damning self-assessment after dropping to Sakkari, saying there have been “actually no excuses” after she let a set and a break lead slip in that match.

Now she has an opportunity to rapidly avenge the loss after exhibiting her preventing qualities towards 2017 champion Stephens.

Whereas Williams’ recreation remains to be nowhere close to the devastating ranges which have gained her 23 main titles, the grit and dedication confirmed in switching gears towards Stephens may have despatched a message to the remainder of the sphere.

Whether or not that shall be sufficient to win one other Grand Slam, shifting stage with Australian Margaret Court docket’s file and placing the demons of dropping her previous 4 main finals behind her, stays to be seen.

In opposition to Stephens, it was a story of contrasting opening units. The youthful American dominated the primary with Williams missing depth, earlier than the roles finally reversed within the second.

Stephens tried to maneuver 38-year-old Williams across the court docket within the opener after which picked her off with blistering winners.

“In that first set I do not assume she made any errors, she was taking part in so clear,” stated Williams.

As you’d count on from a former Grand Slam champion, Stephens has loads of class to hassle the perfect.

But, the 27-year-old has struggled for consistency prior to now couple of seasons and went into the match towards Williams having not overwhelmed a top-10 participant for nearly two years.

That inconsistency confirmed because the match wore on.

Stephens was gifted a possibility to interrupt for a 3-2 lead within the second when Williams, who was respiratory closely between serves, produced a double fault.

Nevertheless, Williams found her most potent weapon – her first serve – to carry and demoralise Stephens.

Her stage dipped from that time as a rejuvenated Williams gained 10 of the final 12 video games to proceed her file of reaching not less than the fourth spherical in each US Open look since 1999.

“I simply stated I do not wish to lose in straight units, as a result of she was taking part in good,” stated Williams, who final gained the title at Flushing Meadows in 2014.

“I stated, ‘Serena, simply get a recreation, get a recreation’ and the subsequent factor I knew I gained the second set.”