Day Eleven of the 2018 US Open was all about deciding which doubles teams would comprise the finals - well yes, the day sessions fulfilled that goal, but in truth the crowds were after tickets for the night session which scheduled the two women’s singles semi finals.
New York was abuzz with the distinct possibility of an all-American final for a second year running, and the mighty Serena being one significant part of this years celebration.
First up, a Latvian 19th seed was attempting to spoil the Serena Williams (17) party in semi final number one.
And Anastasija Sevastova made the ideal start, with a closed roof keeping rains and thunderstorms at bay, taking full advantage of loose American ground strokes to break and lead 1-0.
Still, two winning overheads from Serena meant that she had stuff to offer once she settled.
Backhand and forehand winners helped consolidate the break for Sevastova, before Williams held serve on the back of a pair of winning forehands and another crisp overhead.
Beyond this point, Anastasija won just one more game, as the incredible Serena Williams raised her game to a level where mere mortals can only ever aspire.
The statistics built, just as they did when Serena similarly dismissed her sister in the third round - 16 winners, and 12 of 15 points won on the Sevastova second serve for the opening set. (31, and 18 from 22 for the match)
Serena won 24 points at the net from 28 attempts in the match - 3 from 6 for Anastasija. This was a stark difference for the legend, because in this tournament, no more than ten approaches to net had previously been made by Serena in a single match. Average 8.4
Following that opening game of the match, where Sevastova had two break points and converted one, no more came her way, whereas ten opportunities presented themselves to Williams, and five were utilised efficiently.
A thirty-first major final for Serena, her ninth at Flushing Meadows, and another chance for Grand Slam title number 24.
The second semi final pitted last years runner up Madison Keys (14) against Naomi Osaka (20).
Keys had won all previous three encounters between the pair, including the third round at this years Roland Garros and third round at the 2016 US Open.
Tonight, Keys strong returning put Osaka under early pressure at 1-2 and 0-40. However, the three break points were saved, plus another, thanks to powerful striking from the young Japanese talent, and games were level 2-2.
The ability to hold serve under that extreme pressure, filled Osaka with a resolve which opened the floodgates. Assisted by a number of errors from Keys, Osaka played a carefully crafted brand of tennis, and was rewarded with the first break of the match to lead 3-2.
Another two break points were saved by Osaka, before a second service break, this one to love, and 5-2.
The second set point delivered the lead 6-2 to Naomi Osaka
Set two began how the opener ended, with Osaka winning her sixth straight game, breaking a seemingly hapless American.
Madison lifted her spirits, and importantly her tennis, to test her opponent in the next game, creating chance after chance.
After twelve minutes and six break points, Osaka was still standing, and games were 2-0, Keys wondering if ever the Japanese serve could be broken.
For her part, Madison served particularly well in set two, forgetting game one, and the pressure was always on Osaka to maintain her break.
One more break back point raised its head in the eighth game, but as per the other twelve faced by Osaka, this was squashed.
Madison was angry, and she served a love game, an ace the exclamation mark. 4-5, ensuring Naomi had to serve it out for a final showdown with Serena.
After losing the first point, Naomi Osaka was composed in winning the remainder, the final point a massive serve which had no possible useful response.
The win, 6-2 6-4 propelled Naomi into the 2018 US Open final, her first major, and the first for a Japanese women.
A 20 year old majors final debutant v The best there’s been
an exciting prospect
No comments:
Post a Comment