Serena Williams is onto the semi-finals at the US Open for her 11th straight year in a row. But, much like her matches leading up to this game, it was no easy feat. Battling through three sets with opponent, and fellow mother, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, to win it 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Serena Williams was unbeaten in her four previous matches against Pironkova, who is unranked and is playing in her first tournament since 2017 Wimbledon. As what seems like routine for Serena, she got off to a slow start. Hitting balls long and mishitting a number of easy forehands, Serena was broken in her second game, and Pironkova quickly finished off the first set, leaving Serena shaking her head as she walked back to the bench.
Though, Serena found energy in the second set, breaking Pironkova in the second game and then breaking her again in the eighth game after a lumbering 24-stroke rally. After pounding her 14th, 15th and 16th ace of the match, the two mothers headed into a deciding third set. Once again, her serve bailing her out of a tough spot.
Pironkova quickly put herself in deep water in the third set when she was broken in the opening game. From then on, Serena seemed to be on cruise control. Serena is set to face the winner of Victoria Azarenka and Elise Mertens tomorrow on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Serena is desperate to tie Margaret Court’s record, as she is currently 0-5 in grand slam finals dating back most recently to her loss against Bianca Andreescu at last years US Open. Time will tell if she can finally accomplish the feat. . .