In a star-studded evening session at the US Open, Serena Williams and Simona Halep set the Arthur Ashe Stadium on fire with a top-class performance to get the last place in the semifinals. With her best performance so far, against the most dangerous opponent she has faced in the tournament, the n.1 in the world continued the defense of her 2015 title with a 6-2 4-6 6-3 win that keeps her in the race to maintain the top spot of the WTA ranking at the end of this week. With the draw aligned at the semifinals, Serena is still trailing German Angelique Kerber by some 460 points, after last year’s result have been removed.
The first set was cut short when Williams went on an 11-2 streak to erase Halep’s chance for 3-3 to gain a one set to love lead after 33 minutes. Previously Serena was the faster off the mark to obtain an early break for the 3-0 just to be broken back immediately after for Halep to serve on 2-3.
The Romanian managed to stop Serena’s run when, serving at 0-1 in the second set, she fought off five break point to hold a crucial 18-point game and went on to break Williams for the second time in the match, after the American had not lost serve for the entire tournament before this match.
Despite seven more chances, Williams could not break back in the second set (0/12 on break point) and succumbed to a much reinvigorated opponent and to her own 25 unforced errors.
Halep continued to ride the wave of her victorious 65-minute second set with two break points in the opening game of the third set. “I had two chances to make a break in first game – explained Halep – There I could take that game, and I think the story of the match would have been different. You know, was just one game. I should play like more aggressive, I think, after that game, but she took the break. She took my game on my serve, and then she was serving really tough”.
Three games later came the deciding break for Williams, who exploited three consecutive second serves by Halep to pound on the return. “I didn’t take some opportunities that I had – said Serena – I really had some chances there and I didn’t take them, and I let that get the better of me. You know, I didn’t play the same match in the first set or in the second, and my third set was better than the second”.
After 2 hours, 18 minutes, a forehand by Halep playing long closed the match, keeping Williams in the tournament and prolonging the defense of her 2015 title and her no.1 ranking position. She will continue her challenge on Thursday night at 7 pm when she will face Karolina Pliskova, who defeated Serena Williams’ sister Venus in the Round of 16.
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