Thanks as always for following along with us. Be sure to check back tomorrow for more live coverage from Flushing Meadows.
Here’s a look at the stats from tonight’s match. True to form, Williams’ serve made the difference. She also hit three times as many winners (30) as her opponent (10), while both had 15 unforced errors.
Updated
Williams wins 6-2, 6-2 to advance to third round!
Final: Williams 6-2, 6-2 Witthoeft
Witthoeft double-faults to fall behind 15-30 and suddenly Williams is two points from the match. Williams then crushes a forehand winner for double match point and she only needs the first, celebrating at the baseline when Witthoeft nets a forehand. It’s official: Serena-Venus XXX in the third round on Friday – in what could only be a night match though the timing won’t be confirmed until tomorrow afternoon. It will mark the arliest they’ve played at a major since their first ever meeting 20 years ago at the Australian Open.
Second set: Williams 6-2, 5-2 Witthoeft* (*denotes next server)
Williams serving at an 80% clip this set and it’s made all the difference. A glimmer of hope for Witthoeft, who gets it to 15-30, but Williams answers with an 108mph ace out wide over the high part of the net. 30-all. Now Williams puts a forehand into the net deep in a rally and suddenly Witthoeft has a break-point chance. Not for long: Williams erases it with a 103mph ace, her 11th of the night, for deuce. After some push-and-pull Williams crushes a forehand winner from the baseline for the hold and now Witthoeft will serve to stay in the tournament after the changeover.
Williams breaks in sixth game of second set!
Second set: *Williams 6-2, 4-2 Witthoeft (*denotes next server)
Williams wins the first point on Witthoeft’s serve and suddenly it feels like a pivotal moment of the match could be afoot. And now Witthoeft dumps a backhand into the net and suddenly it’s love-30. Moments later it’s 15-40 and Serena has a pair of break points. She needs only one as the German sprays a forehand wide for the break of serve and hangs her head in frustration.
Second set: Williams 6-2, 3-2 Witthoeft* (*denotes next server)
Witthoeft makes a bit of headway on the Williams serve for the first time this set, closing it to 40-30 with a well-struck forehand winner into the open court on the run. But Williams counters with a thudding ace down the middle for the hold.
Second set: *Williams 6-2, 2-2 Witthoeft (*denotes next server)
Williams fights her way back into what initially looks like an easy service game for Witthoeft, but the German digs it out and they’re still on serve in the second.
Second set: Williams 6-2, 2-1 Witthoeft* (*denotes next server)
Williams really finding her rhythm on her serve, holding at love for a second straight service game as the players change ends.
Second set: *Williams 6-2, 1-1 Witthoeft (*denotes next server)
An easy hold for Witthoeft, who desperately needed it after the match seemed to get away from her over the last 15 minutes. Williams seems to be unhappy with her racket tension, but she’s in good shape on the scoreboard.
Second set: Williams 6-2, 1-0 Witthoeft* (*denotes next server)
Williams opens with a second-serve ace, then a first-serve ace, then rattles of a pair of quick points to hold at love.
Williams breaks and wins first set, 6-2!
First set: Williams 6-2 Witthoeft
Two quick errors from Witthoeft on her serve and suddenly Williams is two points from the set. Witthoeft recovers with an ace, her first of the match, then a service winner for 30-all. But she sends a forehand from the baseline sailing on the next rally to hand Williams a set point. Williams can’t take advantage, blinking first in an extended rally and netting a forehand. Moments later Williams works her way back to another set point and this time she delivers, closing it out in 32 minutes and moving one set closer to a third-round showdown with Venus.
First set: Williams 5-2 Witthoeft* (*denotes next server)
Williams opens with a 111mph ace, her second of the night, but a couple of basic forehand misses later and it’s 15-40 and double break point for Witthoeft. Williams brushes aside the first with a 114mph ace down the middle, then another with a 85mph second serve that jams the German. Williams then sends a forehand into the net falling backwards from the baseline, giving Witthoeft a third break-point chance in this game ... and Williams erases it again with her third ace of the game and fourth of the night. And now it’s a fifth ace for Williams, this one 115mph, matching her fastest serve of tournament. That serve is really clicking now. And she caps off the hold with a service winner. Magnificent stuff. Witthoeft will serve to stay in the first set after the changeover.
Williams breaks in sixth game of first set!
First set: *Williams 4-2 Witthoeft (*denotes next server)
A loose service gave from Witthoeft unravels quickly and suddenly Williams has triple break point at love-40. She needs only the first of them, ripping a backhand return that Witthoeft can’t handle and breaking at love.
Witthoeft breaks in fifth game of first set!
First set: Williams 3-2 Witthoeft* (*denotes next server)
A glimmer of hope for Witthoeft. At 30-all, she runs Williams ragged from corner to corner before putting away a smash winner for her first break-point chance of the night. And Witthoeft doesn’t waste it, extending the rally long enough for Williams to send a forehand flying. Back on serve in the opener.
Williams breaks in fourth game of first set!
First set: *Williams 3-1 Witthoeft (*denotes next server)
What starts as a strong service game from Witthoeft unravels quickly. At 15-love, the German lures Williams in with a well-placed drop shot before putting the point away with a backhand passing winner across the court. But an unforced error and a double fault makes it 30-all, then Williams pounds a return winner to set up the first break-point chance of the match for either player. And Williams converts! She pounds a flat, powerful return deep into the court that Witthoeft can only return into the net.
First set: Williams 2-1 Witthoeft* (*denotes next server)
A crisper service game there for Williams, who quickly races to 40-love in bang-bang fashion before mixing in her first double fault of the night. From there a second-serve service winner seals the hold and the players change sides.
First set: *Williams 1-1 Witthoeft (*denotes next server)
At 15-all, Serena crushes a return winner as Anna Wintour looks on from the Williams box in approval. Moments later Williams pounds another gorgeous backhand winner for deuce, but Witthoeft calmly serves out the game.
First set: Williams 1-0 Witthoeft* (*denotes next server)
A bit of a slow start for Williams, who misses a few first serves and mixes in a few errors while getting pushed to deuce, but Witthoeft complies with a couple of sprayed forehands on the pressure points and Williams is out of the first game with the hold.
Witthoeft, the world No 101, faces some ominous history in tonight’s match. Serena’s last defeat to player ranked outside the top 100 came in the first round of the 2012 French Open, when she bowed to No 111 Virginie Razzano. Feels like a lifetime ago. On the rosier side, it’s not been that long since Williams lost to a German in grand slam play.
The players are walking up the tunnel toward the court where they are intercepted for their pre-match interviews with ESPN. First it’s Witthoeft, who is asked about handling the pressure of playing a 23-time grand slam champion on home soil.
“It’s going to be exciting for me, but I’m just trying to focus on myself,” the 23-year-old German says. “I’m just going to try and play aggressive and play my game and let’s see.”
Then comes Serena, who is asked about the challenge of playing an opponent she’s never faced before (“It’s never easy but I’ve seen her play a lot so that helps”) and how she feels about playing on Ashe (“It’s an incredible feeling, I love this New York crowd, I almost can’t describe it”).
About 20 minutes until the players take the court. Here’s Kevin Mitchell’s courtside report from Andy Murray’s four-set defeat to Fernando Verdasco.
We’ve been told the match won’t start before 7.45pm local time. That’s about a half hour from now. So feel free to prepare a snack and check in on the other happenings around the grounds with our Katy Murrells.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Arthur Ashe Stadium for tonight’s second-round match between Serena Williams and Carina Witthoeft. The players should be on court a few minutes later than scheduled as the stadium empties out following Fernando Verdasco’s just-finished victory over Andy Murray in the day-session finale.
Good evening US Open fans. Blame Fernando and Andy. #usopen pic.twitter.com/j3GGIWz2Xt
— Andy Taylor (@StadiumAndy) August 29, 2018
It’s the first ever meeting between the 23-time grand slam champion and the 23-year-old German and surely the American is the favorite despite a rocky patch of form entering Flushing Meadows. Williams overcame a bit of a slow start in her first-round win over Poland’s Magda Linette, while Wittheoft won in straight sets over the American teenager Caroline Dolehide.
Updated
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look at the sweltering conditions that have been the talk of the tournament so far.
