Serena Williams (25) played Kiki Mladenovic in the third round of Wimbledon 2018 on Day Five.
She opened proceedings by serving, and in a game of errors was down 15-40. Both break points were saved and eventually serve was held.
Mladenovic demonstrated the weapons she has in both her serve and forehand as she levelled at 1-1.
Serena had no troubles in holding serve the second time and led 2-1.
An off forehand winner from Mladenovic plus three Serena errors equaled a love game for the French player and 2-2.
A brilliant Mladenovic backhand pass brought up two break points. Serena saved one but a backhand down the line converted the second and Kiki led 3-2.
A slashing return winner from Serena was matched by a forehand ml winner and serve was held for 4-2.
A searing backhand winner imported from France didn’t stop Serena holding serve and she remained in touch at 3-4.
The pair traded solid forehands before the French serve won out, an ace completing the game and Mladenovic led 5-3
Serena held serve, two aces and a winning forehand highlighted.
5-4 Mladenovic
Serving for the set, Mladenovic served an ace for 30-15, and Williams responded with an off forehand winner. A netted backhand from Mladenovic and break point. A long forehand and the break came 5-5.
A double fault didn’t faze Serena as she served her way to 6-5
Errors from Mladenovic and a stunning backhand return from Serena presented the American with three set points.
One saved with an ace. The next with a backhand winner. The third was saved when Serena found the net. A classic Williams forehand winner gave her a fourth chance. A double fault unfortunately handed Serena Williams the opening set 7-5.
Set two opened with both players earning a service break and games reaching 2-2.
Serena was annoyed at losing two games in a row and a love game was served in response. 3-2. Mladenovic did well to level at 3-3, a backhand winner the highlight.
An ace was followed by a double fault and deuce was found. Another ace and then a serve just as effective sealed the game 4-3 Williams.
Two winning forehands helped Mladenovic to 4-4
Serena raced to 40-0, then a lucky Mladenovic return, plus a forehand forcing an error, then a French forehand winner, brought it all to deuce.
Serena found the net with her backhand and break point. Saved with a second serve return being netted. Power play from Williams with a forehand winner and an ace. 5-4.
From 40-15, Kiki committed two errors, and it was deuce. Game point after a Williams miss. Deuce again following a netted Mladenovic ground stroke.
Two Williams errors and 5-5.
Three aces from Serena and she led 6-5. A lob success and a forehand winner were cancelled out by two double faults and it was 30-30 on the Mladenovic serve. A brilliant drop shot and game point, but problems after that eventually produced a match point for Williams.
Saved with an off forehand sizzler. Serve held and a tie break required.
Williams won the first three points, including both off the Mladenovic serve.
Mladenovic retrieved one off the American serve and it was 1-4
Serena was not happy so she belted a backhand winner for 5-1.
At 5-2 Serena had two serves and could win the match here.
Ace number 12 and four match points. Ace number 13 and Serena Williams defeated Kristina Mladenovic 7-5 7-6(2)
Into the round of sixteen where she will play Evgeniya Rodina in a battle of two tennis mothers.
Rodina defeated Madison Keys (10) 5-7 7-5 6-4 in another big upset this tournament.
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