Raging hit

New York, September 8

Her breathing loud enough to hear in an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium, her third-set deficit a point from growing to 1-3 against someone who beat her less than two weeks earlier, Serena Williams scrambled to extend a 13-stroke exchange until her opponent netted a forehand.

Yeah, I’m always going to bring that fire and that passion. Serena Williams

“Keep fighting!” Williams exhorted herself.

Locked in a tough fourth-round match yesterday, and without the benefit of a pro-American audience, Williams provided her own encouragement along the way to coming back and beating 15th-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3, reaching the quarterfinals in a 12th consecutive appearance at Flushing Meadows.

“I feel like I’m pretty vocal with or without a crowd. …I’m super passionate. This is my job. This is what I wake up to do. This is what I train to do, 365 days of the year,” said Williams, who moved a step closer to a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title.

“Yeah, I’m always going to bring that fire and that passion,” she continued, “and that ‘Serena’ to the court.”

When the match ended, after Williams collected six of the last seven games, she turned and yelled toward her husband, who stood at his front-row seat and yelled right back.

This was a rematch from August 25, when Williams faded after building a lead and lost in three sets to Sakkari at the Western & Southern Open. “Of course I thought about (the loss), but ever so little, because it’s a completely different match, completely different scenario, completely different moment,” Williams said.

In the earlier one, Williams’ legs were cramping by the end, and she blamed herself for that situation, memorably declaring: “I put myself in a bad situation. It’s like dating a guy that you know sucks.”

Asked about that line Monday, Williams joked: “Thank God, I got rid of that guy. Never want to see him again. He was the worst.”

Pironkova next

Williams, who turns 39 in less than three weeks, will face unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova for a semifinal berth. Playing in her first tournament in more than three years after taking time off to have a child, the 32-year-old Pironkova advanced with a 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 victory over Alize Cornet. — AP

Bopanna and Shapovalov ousted

The Indian challenge came to an end with the quarterfinal loss of Rohan Bopanna and his Canadian partner Denis Shapovalov in the men’s doubles event. Bopanna and Shapovalov lost 5-7 5-7 to Jean-Julien Rojer and Horea Tecau in the last-eight match which lasted one hour and 26 minutes. It was Bopanna’s best performance at a Slam since he made the quarterfinals at both the US Open and the French Open in 2018. PTI

Mertens too good for second seed Kenin

No. 16 seed Elise Mertens knocked off second-seeded Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament for the second year in a row and deny the American a chance for back-to-back Grand Slam titles. Kenin won the Australian Open and was trying to become the first with two straight Grand Slam titles since Naomi Osaka won the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open. Mertens will next face former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka.

Smiling assassin

Azarenka had a huge smile on her face after reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in more than four years by beating Czech Karolina Muchova 5-7 6-1 6-4. The 31-year-old, a two-time Australian Open champion and twice a finalist at Flushing Meadows, has struggled to reach the heights she enjoyed before she took time out to have her son. Azarenka won her first title in four years at the Western & Southern Open, however, and will head into the quarterfinals with a 9-2 record this year. “It’s been a while,” she said. Agencies

Medvedev on fire

Third seed Daniil Medvedev stormed into the quarterfinals with a dominant 6-4 6-1 6-0 win over a listless Frances Tiafoe. He will next face 10th seed Andrey Rublev. Tenth seed Rublev beat Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3. Rublev fired nine aces and 34 winners while winning 85% of his first-serve points.

Thiem in a hurry

Second seed Dominic Thiem was pushed in the opening set but recovered to beat 20-year-old Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime 7-6(4) 6-1 6-1 to move into the quarterfinals. Thiem, the highest seed in the draw after top seed Novak Djokovic was disqualified, will next face another youngster in 21-year-old Australian Alex de Minaur. The 21st seed de Minaur beat Canada’s Vasek Pospisil 7-6(6) 6-3 6-2 to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal. Reuters