That’s all for now. Be sure to check out Tumaini Carayol’s full match report and thanks as always for following along with us.
Updated
“I think she played unbelievable,” Serena says of her sister in an on-court interview. “She’s doing so good. I honestly don’t know how I was able to pull it out in the end. She fought well.”
She adds: “I honestly didn’t come here to win, for the first time in my career. I just came here to get some matches and see what happens. I haven’t had this much time off since the baby. But now I’m just trying to get some rhythm and we’ll see what happens.”
Serena wins 3-6, 6-3, 6-4!
Third set: Serena 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Venus
Serena falls behind 15-30 on her serve, then catches a break when she’s awarded an ace on a linesperson’s overrule. Serena follows with her 14th ace of the day for match point, then finishes it off after Venus misfires off the forehand side. What a match!
Updated
Serena breaks in ninth game of third set!
Third set: *Serena 3-6, 6-3, 5-4 Venus (*denotes next server)
Serena pushes what appears to be a straightforward service game for her sister to deuce. Then Venus mixes in her 11th double fault at the worst possible time to give Serena a break-point opportunity. Another high-quality baseline rally follows and Serena gets the best of it with a highlight-reel backhand winner from deep in the court that paints the line. Serena will serve for the match after the changeover.
Sensational backhand to break 💪💪@serenawilliams #TSOpen pic.twitter.com/JiJic6SQzR
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
Updated
Third set: Serena 3-6, 6-3, 4-4 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Venus pushes it to deuce from 40-love down, but Serena pounds her third ace of the game and 12th of the match then follows with a winner to see out the hold. The very high quality of shotmaking on offer is almost enhanced by the stripped-down backdrop.
Magnificent shots just keep coming! 🙌@venuseswilliams #TSOpen pic.twitter.com/FqTTiVzZAs
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
Updated
Serena breaks in seventh game of third set!
Third set: *Serena 3-6, 6-3, 3-4 Venus (*denotes next server)
Venus’s serve betrays her again as she quickly falls behind love-40, giving Serena three looks at a break point. Venus saves the first, then the second, but Serena crushes a cross-court forehand winner on the third to break right back as the match enters its third hour.
Venus breaks in sixth game of third set!
Third set: Serena 3-6, 6-3, 2-4 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Serena falls behind love-30 on her serve, then love-40 after Venus springs forward from the baseline to put away a drop shot into the open court. Serena saves the first break point but Venus converts the second with a forehand winner.
Third set: *Serena 3-6, 6-3, 2-3 Venus (*denotes next server)
Venus, her first serve looking more steady, backs up the break in quick order.
Venus breaks in fourth game of third set!
Third set: Serena 3-6, 6-3, 2-2 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Venus crushes a baseline forehand past Serena for 30-all, then earns a chance to break right back when Serena hits an errant forehand from the baseline. Serena saves it with a forehand winner, but Venus gets another chance a few points later and converts it with a forehand into the corner. We’re back on serve in the third.
.@venuseswilliams with a rocket of a forehand 🚀#TSOpen pic.twitter.com/FaZ4lxDZjH
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
Serena breaks in third game of third set!
Third set: *Serena 3-6, 6-3, 2-1 Venus (*denotes next server)
Serena draws first blood in the deciding set, staking a break-point opportunity at 30-40 then converting it with a perfectly struck cross-court forehand winner. Venus is making only 50% of her first serves on the day.
Third set: Serena 3-6, 6-3, 1-1 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Serena breezes through her opening service game of the decider, crunching her eighth ace of the day along the way.
Third set: *Serena 3-6, 6-3, 0-1 Venus (*denotes next server)
Venus returned to court after eight minutes of the allotted 10. Serena, perhaps in a spot of gamesmanship, stayed on court throughout, putting in a bit of light shadowboxing to stay loose. Venus then opens the decider with an uncomplicated hold.
Venus has left the court ahead of the third set in accordance with the heat rule, which is in effect. Serena has stayed on court, discussing with the chair umpire whether she is allowed to speak with coach Patrick Mouratoglou during the 10-minute break. (The answer is no.) Meanwhile, the fans who have been shut out of today’s match due to coronavirus precautions are getting a wee bit creative.
Serena and Venus are playing.
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 13, 2020
No fans are allowed.
Time to get creative.
We respect the dedication. 👏@SerenaWilliams | @VenusesWilliams pic.twitter.com/qzJarudlAb
Updated
Serena wins second set, 6-3!
Second set: Serena 3-6, 6-3 Venus
Venus pushes Serena to 15-30, but nets a pair of shots from the baseline to give her sister double set point. Venus then puts a forehand into the net early in the point and we’re heading to a decider!
Ready for another set? 🤔
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
Buckle up because we are heading to a decider as @serenawilliams takes the second set, 6-3.
Follow along --> https://t.co/gCyhEtaq1h#TSOpen pic.twitter.com/HoLXpIpQVu
Updated
Second set: *Serena 3-6, 5-3 Venus (*denotes next server)
Venus races out to 40-love before mixing in her ninth double fault of the day. Serena then pounces on Venus second serve and pounds a quick winner for 40-30, but Venus holds behind another big serve. Serena, who’s raised her level over the past half hour, to serve to force a decider.
Updated
Second set: Serena 3-6, 5-2 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Serena backs up the break with another straightforward hold, including a 106mph missile for her fifth ace of the match. She’s serving nearly 70% in the second and has won 11 of 15 first-serve points (73.3%). Venus will serve to stay in the set after the change of ends. The sweltering conditions don’t appear to be getting any easier on the players: the thermometer now reads 90F (32C) from 86F at the start of the match.
Perfectly placed winner, @serenawilliams 🎯 #TSOpen pic.twitter.com/lpzYmqFeE4
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
Updated
Serena breaks in sixth game of second set!
Second set: *Serena 3-6, 4-2 Venus (*denotes next server)
Another sizzling baseline exchange at 15-all is settled when Serena sends a forehand long, leaving her to quietly admonish herself afterward. Kid sister then fights back to deuce and earns a break point with a first-strike winner early in the point. Venus saves it after getting the best of another grueling rally and follows it with a 110mph ace, but mixes in her eighth double fault of the match edges it back to deuce. Serena then earns a second break-point chance with an easy putaway off a Venus second serve, but sends a forehand just wide at the end of another lengthy rally for deuce. Another unforced error gives Serena a third break chance – and this time she makes it count with a winner that paints the line.
Updated
Second set: Serena 3-6, 3-2 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Serena caps a commanding service game with a 112mph ace out wide.
Second set: *Serena 3-6, 2-2 Venus (*denotes next server)
Venus appears on her way to a drama-free hold, but mixes in a couple of errors from the baseline for deuce. She then makes her sixth double fault of the match to give Serena a break-point look, but follows with a heat-seeking ace down the middle to erase it. Double-faults to go break point down again and saves that one with a 109mph ace, too. From there, Venus holds for 2-all.
Second set: Serena 3-6, 2-1 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Another comfortable hold for Serena, who is serving better in the second set (80%) than in the first (69.6% on the fade).
Second set: *Serena 3-6, 1-1 Venus (*denotes next server)
Venus falls behind 15-30 after Serena caps the best rally of the match so far with a blistering cross-court forehand winner, but roars back with back-to-back aces followed by a forehand winner on the approach to hold.
🔥 Fiery forehand, @serenawilliams #TSOpen pic.twitter.com/B123utQgcO
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
Updated
Second set: Serena 3-6, 1-0 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Serena breezes through her first service game of the set, capping it with her second ace of the day.
Updated
Venus wins first set, 6-3!
First set: Serena 3-6 Venus
Serena pushes it to 30-all to make things interesting, but mixes in a wayward forehand to gift Venus a set point. Big sister then closes it out with a booming serve. First set to Venus.
A solid serve secures the first set for @venuseswilliams, 6-3!#TSOpen pic.twitter.com/gnofj9qgbr
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
First set: Serena 3-5 Venus* (*denotes next server)
A dialed-in Serena delivers a stress-free hold and Venus will serve for the opening set.
First set: *Serena 2-5 Venus (*denotes next server)
Serena pushes Venus to deuce then stakes a break-point chance, but Venus saves it with thudding serve followed by a forehand winner. She holds from there (including an linesperson overrule that results in an ace) to back up the break and an increasingly error-prone Serena will serve to stay in the first set after the changeover. Venus has won five games on the trot since facing double break point at 0-2, 15-40.
A strong backhand from @Venuseswilliams 🚀#TSOpen pic.twitter.com/itG6HnvIJx
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
Updated
Venus breaks in sixth game of first set!
First set: Serena 2-4 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Venus rattles off three quick points for triple break point opposite Serena, who is suddenly looking a bit flat-footed. Serena saves the first of them, but catches the baseline with a forehand on the second and Venus has won four straight games to go from a break down to a break up. Serena is serving well enough (72.2%), but winning only 38.5% of first-serve points (five of 13).
First set: *Serena 2-3 Venus (*denotes next server)
Venus holds comfortably to consolidate after facing break points in her first two service games.
Venus breaks in fourth game of first set!
First set: Serena 2-2 Venus* (*denotes next server)
A scratchy service game from Serena gives Venus two looks at a break at 15-40 – and but she needs only one as Serena blinks first in a baseline rally and sprays a backhand into the alleyway. We’re back on level terms only moments after Serena had break points for 3-0.
First set: *Serena 2-1 Venus (*denotes next server)
Venus is already mixing in far too many second serves, an ominous sign. She double-faults again to fall behind 15-40 and give Serena a pair of break opportunities, but saves them both for deuce. Serena scratches out a third break chance, but Venus saves it with a sizzling forehand winner en route to a sorely needed hold. Venus, who served so well against Azarenka on Tuesday, has made just 37.5% of her first serves (six of 16) so far.
Fierce forehand, @venuseswilliams 👊#TSOpen pic.twitter.com/1AK4KrXM1X
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
Updated
First set: Serena 2-0 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Serena is pushed to deuce after serving her way out of a love-30 hole, but consolidates the break after Venus sends a pair of returns into the net.
Serena breaks in first game of first set!
First set: *Serena 1-0 Venus (*denotes next server)
Serena wins the first point of the match on Venus’s serve, overpowering her sister on a baseline rally and finishing with a backhand winner down the line. Serena misfires on a pair of backhands, but Venus then double-faults for 30-all and puts a forehand into the net to give Serena an early break-point chance. And she capitalizes on it as Venus dumps a mid-court forehand into the net.
What a way to start the match 🙌@serenawilliams #TSOpen pic.twitter.com/nnoIZ5MZGf
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
Updated
A bit of a surreal scene as Venus and Serena take the nearly empty court in Lexington. When they last faced off in the US Open third round nearly two years ago, the asking price for a ticket at 22,547-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium soared upwards of $300 in the hours before they took the court. A slightly more subdued backdrop today in Kentucky.
The amount of talent on this court right now...🔥@serenawilliams and @Venuseswilliams have arrived.
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 13, 2020
Watch the #TSOpenLex live →https://t.co/tPoe44TDv0 pic.twitter.com/ISpW04aj4T
Here are some notes on today’s matchup courtesy of the WTA’s crack communications staff:
- Serena and Venus have met 30 times, including 16 times at grand slams
- Serena holds a 18-12 advantage overall with a 11-5 record at grand slams; only Evert-Navratilova met more often at major tournaments (22 times)
- Their first head-to-head meeting came at the 1998 Australian Open when Venus, then 17 years old, defeated her younger sister Serena (16 years old) in the second round
- Serena has won nine of the last 11 meetings
- Serena leads 7-4 in three-set matches
- Serena has won nine of the 14 tie-break sets played. Three of those were third set tie-breaks, with Serena winning two of them
- The most lopsided scoreline was Serena’s 6-1, 6-2 in the semi-finals at 2013 Charleston and in R32 at 2018 US Open. The only 6-0 set in the series occurred in round-robin action at the 2008 WTA finals, with Venus a 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 victor
- The winner of the first set has won all but four encounters. Those were Serena’s 4-6 6-4, 6-2 win in the 2003 Wimbledon final, Venus’ 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 win in round-robin action at the 2008 WTA finals and Serena’s 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (4) win in round-robin action at the 2009 WTA finals and Venus’ 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-3 win at 2014 Montreal
- They have met three times with one of them ranked No 1 in the world and the other No 2, with Serena winning all three of those matchups
Williams-Williams will be underway shortly after Jil Teichmann wins five games on the trot to win 6-2, 6-2 over Yulia Putintseva on Center Court. Some reading material while you wait: my colleague Tumaini Carayol’s feature on the return of pro tennis in the era of coronavirus.
Speaking of the US Open, world No 1 and and unbridled spirit Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will play in New York later this month.
Novak Djokovic has confirmed that he will compete in the US Open in New York later this month. Several players have already pulled out of the tournament, including four-time winner and defending champion Rafael Nadal, due to coronavirus fears.
But the world No 1, who tested positive for Covid-19 in June following the controversial Adria Tour, wrote on his website: “I am happy to confirm that I will participate at the Western & Southern Open and US Open this year.
“It was not an easy decision to make with all the obstacles and challenges on many sides, but the prospect of competing again makes me really excited. During my career, I have played some of my best matches at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. I am aware that this time around it will be very different with all the protocols and safety measures that are put in place to protect players and people of NY.
“Nevertheless, I have trained hard with my team and got my body in shape so I am ready to adapt to new conditions. I’ve done all the check-ups to make sure I am fully recovered and I am ready to get back on court fully committed to playing my best tennis.
“I respect and appreciate everyone taking time, effort, and energy to organise these two events for the tennis players to be able to go back to their working field.
“Unfortunately for the players and the game itself, the current situation is not allowing everyone to travel and compete at the same level of risk, and I hope the situation will change soon and we will all be back to doing what we love and do best.”
Djokovic will also compete in the Western & Southern Open, which is usually held in Cincinnati but will be played at Flushing Meadows from 22-28 August. The US Open gets under way at the same venue three days later. Both tournaments will be played without fans in attendance.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to today’s match between Serena and Venus Williams at the Top Seed Open in Lexington. The modest, mostly empty confines of the Top Seed Tennis Club on the outskirts of Kentucky’s second-largest city may seem like an improbable backdrop for the 31st meeting between two former world No 1s with 30 major singles titles between them – 23 for Serena, seven for Venus – but the WTA’s first US event since the coronavirus shutdown has drawn a number of the world’s top players as they look to get into form ahead of this month’s US Open.
Serena needed three sets on Tuesday to see off 60th-ranked Bernarda Pera in her first match since February, falling behind love-40 at 4-all in the second set after dropping the first but rallying for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory in two hours and 16 minutes.
Venus had a far easier go of it against two-time major champion Victoria Azarenka, breezing to a 6-3, 6-2 win to book another date with her sister in the round of 16.
“I haven’t played in forever, so I want to play the best players,” Venus said after Tuesday’s match. “And I think I got my wish in playing Serena.”
It’s been nearly two full years since the sisters’ last meeting, a one-sided Serena victory in the third round under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. That result lifted the younger Williams’s advantage in the head-to-head series to 18-12 overall.
The Williamses are scheduled to take the court shortly after today’s first match on Center Court between Yulia Putintseva and Jil Teichmann, which is currently in the second set.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s our Kevin Mitchell’s look at Serena Williams’ long-running pursuit of Margaret Court’s grand slam record.
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