US OPEN 2018: Serena Williams beats Kaia Kanepi, Pliskova with her in quarterfinal
US Open 2018: Serena Williams beats Kanepi, Nadal through – as it happened
Serena Williams won the first set 6-0 in 18 minutes but ended up edging a three-set battle with Kaia Kanepi, while Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem set up an intriguing quarter-final
That’s all from this blog, but you can follow defending champion Sloane Stephens against Elise Mertens on this site very soon. A couple of quick score updates: John Isner has taken the third set 6-4 to lead Milos Raonic two sets to one, and there’s a minor upset brewing on the Grandstand, where Anastasija Sevastova is a set up on the No 7 seed, Elina Svitolina.
“We always have really tough matches – I was just happy to get through it. [Since Wimbledon] I’ve improved my fitness, I feel more able to play longer matches. It was a really good match, and I hope we can keep it up.
“I’ve literally grown up on this court, and that’s super, super special. I’m still going!”
Williams quickly moves to 30-0 and outlasts Kanepi in the next rally for three match points. Kanepi looks to have saved the first, but mistimes her volley and Williams flicks it back into the open court to seal victory!
Third set: *Williams 6-0, 4-6, 5-3 Kanepi (*denotes next server)
The Estonian is serving to stay in the match but shows no sign of nerves, racing through another regulation hold – but Serena Williams will serve for the match...
Third set: Williams 6-0, 4-6, 5-2 Kanepi* (*denotes next server)
Kanepi wins the first rally and has a chance at second serve, but Serena finds a spinning ace down the middle. Her service game is keeping Williams in front as we head past the 90-minute mark – and with that hold, she’s one game away.
Third set: *Williams 6-0, 4-6, 4-2 Kanepi (*denotes next server)
Kanepi struggling to find much rhythm on her service game, and gets lucky as a Williams return misses the baseline at 30-all. Serena then nets to end a scrappy game.
Wondering what’s happening in the match between John Isner and Milos Raonic? Of course you are. It’s 2-2 in the third, with the first two sets exchanged – and no tie-breaks yet.
Third set: Williams 6-0, 4-6, 3-0 Kanepi* (*denotes next server)
Williams looks in control on serve, until a double fault and a follow-up error give Kanepi an unexpected break point. Williams scraps to deny her, then fires down an ace and another serve that doesn’t make it back.
Third set: *Williams 6-0, 4-6, 2-0 Kanepi (*denotes next server)
Now it’s Serena on the charge, and Kanepi feels the pressure – two unforced errors hand over a double break point, and she fires wide to concede the break. That was as if the second set had never happened.
Third set: Williams 6-0, 4-6, 1-0 Kanepi* (*denotes next server)
Kanepi, who looked sure to be humiliated after that first set, senses an opportunity here, keeping Serena on the ropes through a long first service game. Williams gets over the line with a ferocious cross-court winner and lets out an almighty roar. She knows she’s in a battle here.
“That photo has to be one of the best images of a world champion of all time. It is a staggering image of determination, confidence and skill from one of the greatest tennis players and athletes of all time” – Martin O’Brien is talking about this, an absolute stunner of a snap by Robert Deutsch:
Second set: *Williams 6-0, 4-6 Kanepi (*denotes next server)
So after losing the first set in 18 minutes, Kanepi is serving for the second set. Call me cynical, but I have a feeling how this might pan out – and indeed, Serena blasts a forehand winner for 0-30. The next two points are exchanged, before Williams nets on a double break-point.
An ace for Kanepi, challenged by Williams, but it clipped the line. Deuce – and now set point after another fine first serve. Williams smash, we’re back to deuce. Back and forth we go, before Serena goes long! We’re going to a decider!
Second set: Williams 4-5 Kanepi* (* denotes next server)
An early wobble, but Williams steadies up to take it to deuce. A bullet of a serve gives her advantage, and on the next point her second serve – ovrenthusiastically returned – seals the game. 5-4.
Second set: Williams 3-5 Kanepi* (* denotes next server)
But, inevitably, she doesn’t. Williams raises the bar, planting a lovely two-hander bang in the corner, and it’s 0-30. Then a domineering two-hander and a no-nonsense forehand down the line, and she has broken back.
Second set: Williams 2-5 Kanepi* (* denotes next server)
The first “Come on!” of the match emanates as Williams edges 30-15 in front with a storming volley. The same again at 40-15. But Kanepi drags it back to deuce with a flat diagonal, and wallops one down the line for advantage! Staring down the barrel of two break points, Williams hits a simple shot wide, and her challenge is in vain. 5-2 Kanepi, and if she holds her serve here, an unlikely second set is hers.
Second set: Williams* 1-3 Kanepi (* denotes next server)
Kanepi unearths her own pair of aces. 40-0. A double fault halts her momentum though, and Williams wrongfoots her to draw it to 40-30. But another strong serve from the Estonian sees out the game.
Second set: Williams 1-2 Kanepi* (* denotes next server)
Williams rattles in her seventh ace in half an hour to go 30-0 up and, a minute later, comes her eighth. 2-1. The merry sound of the Sugarhill Gang’s Apache (Jump On It) blasts around the stadium, but Kanepi does not look enthused.
Second set: Williams 0-2 Kanepi* (* denotes next server)
Serena changes her racket midway through the game and hits into the net. 30-15. Kanepi, nerveless now, holds out through a couple of second serves to take the game, rounding it off with a whipped shot along the line.
Second set: Williams 0-1 Kanepi* (* denotes next server)
A rare Williams error, overhitting a crosscourt pass, brings it to 15-15 before the American hits lazily into the net for 15-30. After some back-and-forth a great return gives Kanepi advantage, and she sees out the ensuing rally – Williams hitting long again – to break. Welcome to the game.
Lordy. After a couple of solid point, Kanepis sees her serve swiped back down the line, out of her reach, and then loses it badly. She hits one volley long and Williams – who hasn’t dropped a point on her first serve yet – eats up the break point.
First set: Williams 5-0 Kanepi* (* denotes next server)
With three aces, Williams steams through her service game without dropping a point. Kanepa, already weary, beats a hasty retreat to the touchline. Williams strolls after her.
First set: *Williams 4-0 Kanepi (* denotes next server)
Kanepi pegs Williams back, and a low pass from the American gives Kanepi her fourth point of the match. But then she thwacks a two-handed backhand down the line for 15-30 and takes the next point hungrily. Break point, and Kanepi’sweak serve is belted venomously back across court by Williams, who has not broken sweat yet. She’s broken again.
First set: Williams 3-0 Kanepi* (* denotes next server)
Another volley from Kanepi falls long to put Williams 40-15 up, and the latter’s serve is returned with too much power. Williams watches it sail past her feet and land well out.
First set: Williams* 2-0 Kanepi (* denotes next server)
Kanepi’s first serve of the match is swept back down the line by her opponent. 0-15. A rally follows, Williams outlasting the Estonian, and some dead-eyed forehand see Williams break – already. 2-0. Kanepi needs to raise it a notch or start packing her bags.
First set: Williams 1-0 Kanepi* (* denotes next server)
After losing the first point, Williams pegs it back with a cross-court forehand for 15-15, before following it up with an ace. The game is finished off with a deft drop-shot that has Kanepi scrambling in vain. Ominous from Williams.
On Louis Armstrong, John Isner and Milos Raonic take to the court. But here, it’s Williams v Kanepi.
The pair are out for the pre-match knockabout, Kanepi with her left shoulder strapped up and a bandage on the other elbow. She’ll be even more bedraggled once this match is done with, you suspect, whatever the result. The 37-year-old Williams looks as calm as ever. She is going for her 24th slam singles title, and her seventh here. These two have played each other four times before. Kanepi is yet to win a set. All the best, Kaia. Williams to serve.
Nadal: “I’m very happy to be through. I think I improved with my level by the time of the fourth set. He was playing very aggressive. The first two sets were tough because there was no rhythm in the match. After Karen Khachanov, which was a long one, this was a physical one. But I feel good.”
Nadal drinks in the crowd’s affection, spanks a few balls playfully into the stands, and wanders down the tunnel triumphant. His title defence will continue against Dominic Thiem – who dispatched Kevin Anderson early this afternoon – in the quarters. It’s a rerun of the French Open final from three months ago. Nadal won that one.
That was a terrific game in the end, after a slow start. Next up, Serena Williams takes on Kaia Kanepi.
London buses. Two matches are decided in a matter of moments and Karolina Pliskova, the no 8 seed, has beaten the Australian Ashleigh Barty in straight sets.
Nadal defeats Basilashvili 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4
Nadal wins: 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4
His first serve is too much for Basilashvili, who then fires long for 30-0, and then again – three match points. Nadal only needs one. It’s an ace, and he’s into the quarter-finals. But he’s had to work for it, and Basilashvili can take real heart from a performance that was equal parts skill and fight.
Fourth set: Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 5-4 Basilashvili
Hello again. After an early back and forth, Basilashvili swoops forward to send a pass across court for 30-15. Nadal retreats to towel his perspiring face. But it does him little good. Basinashvili finishes him off with a sizzling backhand. But now he needs to break, or he’s off home.
Fourth set: Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 5-3 Basilashvili
Nadal may have landed a knockout blow there – he needs two more service holds. He outlasts Basilashvili in the first rally, and races through the rest of the game. Time to hand you back to Alex...
Fourth set: Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 4-3 Basilashvili
Nadal must wonder how he’s in this situation – he could have been off court an hour ago, and had chances for a double break 10 minutes ago. Fortunately, his opponent is having another badly-timed wobble, an unforced error handing Nadal two break points. Basilashvili comes to the net – and is punished by a brutal passing shot! Nadal enjoyed that – now can he close it out?
Fourth set: Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 3-3 Basilashvili
Basilashvili is so tired, he changes his socks to buy a little time – and comes back out firing, racing to a triple break as Nadal fires a forehand wide! Nadal saves the first but can’t do anything about the second – and we’re back on serve. The power of new socks, eh?
Fourth set: Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 3-2 Basilashvili
The Georgian in a spot of bother, as a double fault leaves the match 30-all. He fires a hopeful forehand into the tramlines, and it’s as good as a match point for Nadal – but he nets from a ferocious first serve. He gets another, second serve, but great defence from Basilashvili keeps him in it. There can’t be much left in the tank, but he finds two more big first serves to hold.
Fourth set: Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 3-1 Basilashvili
A couple of lovely winners from Basilashvili, but Nadal bounces back each time. The Spaniard looks to have the momentum in the next rally, but Basilashvili earns break point with a terrific, controlled backhand winner down the line! Nadal scraps to deuce and holds through force of will.
Fourth set: Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8) 2-1 Basilashvili
Basilashvili gets on the scoreboard in the fourth, finding some of that third-set first serve accuracy. Over on Louis Armstrong, Karolina Pliskova has won the first set against Ashleigh Barty.
Fourth set: Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8) 1-0 Basilashvili
Niall here, filling in while Alex makes a quick trip to the locker room. Nadal would have loved to have got out of here in straight sets but the Georgian was having none of it. He’s serving first in the fourth, but Nadal is angry and quickly sets up two break points with a vicious forehand winner. The No 1 seed takes his first chance, and is back in total control.
President & CEO, Caminchi Bridge Corporation. Worked with Multimedia Nova as Editor-in-Chief, Publisher and GM. TV, Film & Music Producer. Academic Director for worldwide Cyberclassroomtv.com Global Online/Distance Education, and Open Learning project
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