New York: Serena Williams struggled but advanced toward the first calendar Grand Slam since 1988 by defeating Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, at the US Open. World number one Williams, a three-time defending champion seeking her seventh US Open title overall, was outplayed early by her 110th-ranked rival at Arthur Ashe Stadium. But the 33-year-old American overcame 34 unforced errors and 10 double faults, improving to 50-2 on the year and sustaining her march toward history. “I just kept fighting for each point, not for a lot but just one at a time,” Williams said.
“I had been pretty relaxed. Today I was a little tight. I think it showed. Hopefully I can get back to where I was before.” Williams is trying to complete the first calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf 27 years ago and equal Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Slam singles titles, two shy of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record. Williams completed her second “Serena Slam” of four major wins in a row by winning the Wimbledon crown in July and the 33-year-old American can extend her mark as the oldest woman Slam champion.
Bertens was aggressive early, breaking for a 2-1 lead on a running forehand winner, and Williams was off from the start, breaking back to level the first set 5-5 but then double faulting four times before holding on the way to the tie-breaker. Bertens jumped ahead 4-0 in the tie-breaker but surrendered the next five points on unforced errors and eventually handed the set to Williams, who broke three times in the second set to seal the hard-fought win. “It definitely doesn’t worry me, being down a lot,” Williams said. “I know I can make a comeback, make a run for it.”
But her form was so shocking that Williams ran to the practice courts to work on serves for more than an hour. Next up for Williams will be fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who beat compatriot CoCo Vandeweghe 6-2, 6-1. “I’ll have to play a little better if I want to win.”
