Saturday, 7 July 2018

Wimbledon Day 5: S Williams d Mladenovic

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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