NEW YORK (USA): Serena Williams fought back to beat Sloane Stephens 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in third round of US Open on Saturday.
Serena, who had won the last four of the duo’s encounters, and five of six overall, didn’t look worried when she dropped the opening set, 6-2, even though Stephens was playing extremely clean and putting Serena on the defensive.
No stranger to comebacks, Williams almost immediately rebounded. In the second set, the older American earned her first break for a 4-2 lead as she raised her game–something the tennis world has observed time and time again for the past two decades.
Serena, who is still searching for elusive 24 title, cleaned up her play and notched a 6-2 set, a mirror-image of the opening-set loss.
In the decisive third set, Serena asserted herself further—winning over 90 percent of her service points in the set—while Stephens’ consistency and ability to impose her game withered. Serena won 10 of the last 12 games to run away with the match,
Addressing her daughter Olympia in the stands, Serena said, “I hope that she saw her momma fighting.”
“It was intense,” Serena added. “We always have some really incredible matches. It brings out the best in my fitness when I play Sloane.”
This encounter contained little of the emotion or drama one might expect when these two play. From Serena Williams, it was a quiet, determined statement of purpose.
Since then, Serena, 38, formed a family and became a mom. And Sloane won her first Grand Slam, the 2017 US Open.
Sloane, now a veteran at age 27, has also experienced wild career swings in the intervening years, careening from a high ranking of No. 3 in the world just two years ago to her current No. 39.
