Almost there

NEW YORK, September 9

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Serena Williams was forced to dig deep to secure a 4-6 6-3 6-2 US Open quarterfinal victory over unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova yesterday, keeping alive her latest bid for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title.

Williams, a six-time champion in New York, struggled with Pironkova’s slice forehand early and was at risk of her earliest US Open exit in 14 years until she used her experience to find a way back against a resurgent Pironkova. “I’m happy to be standing here … because at one point I was pretty close to not being here,” Williams said.

For Pironkova, the loss marked the end of a surprise run given this was her first professional tournament since 2017. Pironkova was making a comeback after an absence of more than three years during which she had a baby in early 2018.

Azarenka clobbers Mertens

A loose and confident Victoria Azarenka overpowered Elise Mertens 6-1 6-0 to advance to the semifinals where she will face a familiar foe in Williams.

Azarenka, smiling and bobbing her head along to music being played during changeovers, spread the court with 21 winners to dominate 16th seed Mertens in their first career meeting.

Williams leads Azarenka 18-4 in head-to-head.

Childhood friends

Daniil Medvedev continued his march towards a first Grand Slam title, powering into the semifinals with a clinical 7-6(6) 6-3 7-6(5) victory over childhood friend Andrey Rublev. The first Russian duo in the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam since Igor Andreev and Nikolay Davydenko at Roland Garros in 2007, Medvedev showed no fear during a ruthless display that sent him through to the last-four without losing a set.

No player in the Open Era has won the US Open men’s title without dropping a set.

Sublime Thiem

Second seed Dominic Thiem delivered a sublime performance to dismantle Australian Alex de Minaur 6-1 6-2 6-4 and canter into the semifinals. — Reuters