Serena All Business in Reaching US Open Final 16

August 30, 2019 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Serena
Photo Credit: Brian Coleman/LI Tennis Magazine

 

The dominance of Serena Williams was on display yet again on Friday afternoon. Less than 48 hours after having to go the distance to defeat American teenager Caty McNally, Serena powered her way past Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova and into the Round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-2 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium

“I had to go out there on business. I think I tried to do that with all three matches thus far,” said Serena. “It was different because I know that she could play today. I knew what she could do.”

Serena was all business against Muchova, hitting 20 winners and breaking five times in eight chances to move through in just one hour and 14 minutes. She is now into the final 16 of the US Open for the 18th time in her career, and will square off against 

Up next is 22nd seed Petra Martic of Croatia, who secured her spot in the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-3 win over 12th seed Anastasija Sevastova. 

Former finalist Karolina Pliskova worked hard to advance on Thursday, downing Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. 

“I think I was playing quite good in the first set…Just was not able to somehow win any of my serves quite easily in the second set. Just took some energy, of course,” said Pliskova. “In the end, good. It was a big fight. Not for sure the best feeling but I won, which is good.”

Pliskova takes on 16th seed Johanna Konta, who rolled into the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-3 win over 33rd seed Shuai Zheng.

On the men’s side, Australia’s Alex de Minaur upset seventh-seed and former finalist Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. 

 

“Going into this match, I talked to my team and we had a game plan, and very happy I was able to execute that game plan and play some good tennis today.”

De Minaur will meet the winner of Grigor Dimitrov and Kamil Majchrzak for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Roger Federer, coming off two matches in a row in which he dropped the opening set, breezing past Great Britain’s Dan Evans 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in just one hour and 20 minutes. 

“At the end of the day, I think what matters the most for me is that I am in the third round, after all, after those two sort of slow starts. Give myself another opportunity to do better, and I did,” said Federer. “Today was good. You know, different conditions. I was able to adjust and take care of business. So it was good.”

Up next for Federer is 15th seed David Goffin of Belgium, who edged Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6(5), 7-6(9), 7-5. 

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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