Serena Williams’ bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title had once again ended in disappointment after she was knocked out in the semi-finals of the US Open by Victoria Azarenka.
The former world No.1 produced a strong start to her latest latch before falling 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, to the Belarusian who she has defeated in 18 out of their 22 previous meetings on the Tour. Williams had no answers to what was an inspired comeback from her rival despite producing six aces and 35 winners. It is the fourth time she has lost a semi-final at Flushing Meadows in her career and the first since 2016.
“I started really strong. Then she just kept fighting. She just changed and started playing better and better. Maybe I took a little too much off the gas pedal at some point,” said Williams.
“I made some really key mistakes on some returns in the second set that I probably should have done better.”
“I think she started playing really, really well.She just started getting balls that she normally doesn’t get back, she got those back. She started hitting shots that she normally doesn’t make, she made those. She just really stepped her level up.”
The defeat is Williams’ latest Grand Slam heartbreak. Since giving birth to her daughter Olympia in 2017, the 39-year-old is yet to win a major trophy. Settling for runner-up four times in the past two years, including twice at the US Open. If she does win another title it was put her at level footing with Margaret Court for most Grand Slam singles won in history by any player.
“It’s obviously disappointing. At the same time, you know, I did what I could. I feel like other times I’ve been close and I could have done better. Today I felt like I gave a lot,” she said.
During her latest match, there were also injury fears for the American after she had extra strapping during the third set. The problem was associated with her Achilles but she later insisted that it wasn’t very significant and doesn’t see it disrupting her plans for the coming weeks.
Azarenka now has a shot at winning her first Grand Slam title in seven years on Saturday when she takes on 2018 champion Naomi Osaka. She is on a 11-match winning streak in what is one of her best runs on the Tour in recent years. Like Williams Azarenka also took time away from the tour for the birth of her first child but afterwards experienced issues both on and off the court which affected her performance.
“She’s had a lot of downs in her career. She started on a lot of highs. I don’t know how she stayed positive, to be honest, so… That’s a good lesson for all of us,” Williams commented on her rival.
“Hopefully she’ll keep going. But she’s just the kind of person you always root for, unless you’re playing her obviously. She’s just the kind of person you kind of always root for.”
Williams has confirmed that she will be playing at the French Open which will get underway at the end of this month.
