By MJ
Hers was the third match on the Athur Ashe Stadium, but Serena Williams is first in just about everything else in tennis. Among the few who can rival her in firepower was her fouth round opponent, fellow American Madison Keys. The Williams sisters, especially Serena has been the dominant powerhouse in women’s tennis since they burst on the scene almost 20 years ago now. As they continue to age, there are few up and coming players to take their place in carrying the American torch. Madison may very well be the next baton holder. Indeed, she shares many similarities with her elder compatriot. Service pace averaging over 100mph? Check. Big massive forehands, among the fastest out of the entire player pool at the Open? Check. Footspeed and agility, including doing the splits on the run? Check. The level of fitness to go the distance in 3 sets? Check.
So how did Serena take the win in a 6-3, 6-3 straight sets win to make it one step closer to making history? The overwhelming matchplay experience to outplay her opponent not just in terms of physical prowess, but tactically. Tennis is the only sport where one can win more points and still lose the match. To win, one must convert break points, and for all the similarities their games share, this was the crucial difference, as demonstrated during their fourth round encounter.
Both woman showed no signs of nerves from the first ball, crushing the ball back and forth, holding serve relatively easy. The service, which is often the weaker element of most womens’ game, is not the case with these two. For every big serve Williams blasted, Keys soon returned the favor on her own service game. But in the 8th game, as the serving arms race continued, Keys committed 2 double faults to give Serena the break. It’s all she needs as the world #1 by far in ranking points served out the set. It had not been 30 minutes yet.
The 2nd set was much like the first. Both woman showing no signs of fatigue as they continued to pound the ball over the net at each other. In the 3rd game however, Keys once again faced break points. This time, she saved them all to hold, including sliding into a split like Serena had done in her match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands. In addition to the serve, both ladies were going for big returns as well. Serena especially has perfected her down the line return winner for many easy points; she does this by taking the ball extra early cutting off the path and angle of the ball bounce. For Keys, she’s a shotmaker as well, if not on the return at least. She had very good court sense, constructing the point with patience instead of forcing the point. This was a woman who played with conviction and belief in the face of an uphill battle. But she was human after all. In the 7th game, Madison found herself up 40-15. Then out of nowhere with just a slight drop in level, Serena took quick advantage to yet another break point chance. She knows as well as the reader that this is what wins tennis matches. To be sure, so does Keys, but she dumped a backhand into the net for Serena to take the lead once more. From there it was all downhill, as Serena imposed her will around the court, played smart tennis to counter Madison’s fluid power. Although the set lasted longer at 41 minutes, Serena showed why she deserves her place in the next round with yet another convincing win. To recap: Williams converted 3 break points. For Madison? Zero. That, dear readers, is the difference between a win and a loss.
For the young American, this is her best showing at the Open, and she has many more chances to come. Serena on the other hand has to face her least favorite opponent in week 2: her very own sister Venus.
