Six-time US Open champion Serena Williams passed a tricky test against unseeded Russian Margarita Gasparyan to reach the third round in Flushing Meadows for an astounding 20th time; rival and countrywoman Sloane Stephens stands between her and the second week.
By David Kane
NEW YORK, NY, USA – No.3 seed Serena Williams moved into the third round of the US Open on Thursday night, battling past an inspired Margarita Gasparyan, 6-2, 6-4.
“I feel like every day I’m on a new journey, and in this tournament in particular and this year,” she said in her post-match press conference. “So I feel really good. I feel like I’m on that journey and I’m going in the right direction.”
The former World No.1 has never lost before the third round in 20 total appearances, and kept that streak alive after ousting the unseeded Russian in 93 minutes under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I love the crowd here, obviously, but I’ve been playing so long that I’m into the modern era where it’s all digital! There is something kind of calming about it, though.”
Williams and Gasparyan last played in 2016, when the Russian rolled into the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time at the Australian Open. From a career-high ranking of World No.41, what followed for Gasparyan was a knee injury and subsequent surgeries that kept her off the court for much of the next two years before winning a Tashkent Open title in late 2018 and returning to the Top 100 in 2019.
She earned her first WTA main draw win of the season in three sets over reigning Olympic champion Monica Puig in the first round, while her illustrious opposition made quicker work of Kristie Ahn on Tuesday, passing Chris Evert’s record 102 match wins in Flushing Meadows.
Sweeping through the first three games, Williams staved off a break point en route to a 5-1 lead. Though Gasparyan broke back as the American served for the opening set, the 23-time Grand Slam champion showed her mettle in a long eighth game. Breaking for the set on her second opportunity, she closed out a near-perfect set that featured 12 winners to just three unforced errors.
As the second set got more competitive, the American emerged from an exchange of breaks with a 4-2 lead, surviving a ten-minute, five-deuce game to put herself two games from victory.
Gasparyan quickly caught fire from there, winning eight of the next 10 points to level the set, and ended up drawing Williams into another epic game that could have seen her serve to level the match.
“I felt like she returned really well, and I feel like what’s held me back in the past is getting frustrated. I’m out here, fighting, and I felt like the minor setbacks would help me know what not to do next time.”
Battling through to hold, Serena stepped in to return and two loose forehands from the Russian put her over the finish line and into the Round of 32 for a 20th time.
“The only thing that gets me flustered is really me, because I always feel like I’m not winning every point. That doesn’t make sense, and usually I’m just calm.
“I just think with the pressure and everything that I’ve felt like I just needed to be perfect. I always feel like I’m not perfect unless I’m perfect. That’s not a fun way to live your career and live your life.
“So it doesn’t matter if I lose 20 points in a row now. I just feel like, it’s okay, it’s fine, I’m here, and I’m happy. I get to play tennis after all these years. So just looking at it this way, it’s nothing really. It’s really just me and my mentality.”
In all, she hit an impressive 27 winners – nearly double of her 16 unforced errors – and converted five of 11 break point chances while striking seven aces throughout the two-set tussle.
“She’s such a good player, and plays so smooth, sort of like Miloslav Mecir back in the day. She’ll look like she’s not expending much energy and then bam! There’s five winners. She’s obviously won here before and beaten me before, so she knows how to play well. It’s not easy, so I’m glad I had a tough match today to get ready for that one.”
Leading Stephens 5-1 in total head-to-head, the pair last played at the 2015 French Open, where Stephens led Williams by a set; their only US Open meeting came in 2013, where Serena won in two.
2020 US Open presser: Serena – ‘I was really fighting for everything’
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
