Five wins from history
With her 30th consecutive win at a major tournament, Serena Williams is now five matches from a historic calendar-year grand slam. Be sure to check back shortly for Kevin Mitchell’s match report from today and later this week for live commentary of Serena’s third-round match with compatriot Bethanie Mattek-Sands. That’s all for now from Arthur Ashe Stadium. Thanks for following along with us.
Williams breaks, wins second set and match!
Second set: Williams 6-3 Bertens
It’s 15-15 after Bertens follows a winner with an unforced error. A double fault makes it 15-30 and now Bertens is within two points of elimination. And, oh dear, another double fault gives Williams a pair of match points. Bertens fires a sharp cross-court winner to save the first, but she sprays a backhand wide and the day is Serena’s.
Second set: Williams 5-3 Bertens* (*denotes next server)
Excellent first serve by Williams, who pushes Bertens wide before crashing the net to put away the easy winner. The Dutch responds with a deep, angled winner of her own to knot it at 15-all. Williams with a pair of winners punctuated by a “Come on!” and then a fist pump. A 93mph ace by Serena secures the hold and Bertens will serve to stay in the tournament.
Second set: *Williams 4-3 Bertens (*denotes next server)
Two quick points for Bertens, who’s still in the fight. A misplayed approach shot by Serena that sails long makes it 40-0, followed by a botched overhand smash by Williams that gets caught in the net. Bertens holds at love and Serena will serve at 4-3, two games from a 30th consecutive grand slam win and a third-round clash with Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Second set: Williams 4-2 Bertens* (*denotes next server)
Now that’s how you back up a break. Williams with the lightning-quick love hold and the pressure falls squarely on Bertens to hold.
Williams breaks!
Second set: *Williams 3-2 Bertens (*denotes next server)
Bertens falls behind 0-30 for her third straight servie game, but she recovers nicely with a pair of winners to make it 30-all. A Williams winner makes it 30-40, but Bertens saves to bring it to deuce. Another Bertens forced error gives Williams a second break-point chance, but then the Dutch qualifer double-faults and Serena moves back ahead a break.
Bertens breaks!
Second set: Williams 2-2 Bertens* (*denotes next server)
Bertens with a half-chance at 15-30, but a service winner by Williams levels the score at 30-all. But very quickly a careless error by Williams gives Bertens a break-point chance and Serena gifts her opponent the game with her 10th double fault of the match.
Williams breaks!
Second set: *Williams 2-1 Bertens (*denotes next server)
Bertens in more trouble at 0-30 down, then 0-40 after a vicious return winner by Williams. Three break points for Serena but the world No1 need not lift a racket to secure it after Bertens double-faults. Only her third of the day but it could hardly have come at a worse time.
Second set: Williams 1-1 Bertens* (*denotes next server)
Four quick points by Williams – including an 88mph second-serve ace down the middle at 30-love – and Serena has an easy love hold. Your turn, Kiki.
Second set: *Williams 0-1 Bertens (*denotes next server)
Bertens immediately under pressure at 30-30, then goes break point down when WIlliams pounds a cross-court forehand winner into the corner. A pair of Williams unforced errors give Bertens a game point, but the Dutch pushes a forehand on the run long to return the score to deuce. A Bertens forehand winner down the line that freezes Williams in her tracks gives her another game point. Another double fault by Bertens, only her second, brings it back to deuce but it’s quickly back to game point on a Serena error and a Bertens winner seals the hold.
Williams wins first set!
First-set tiebreaker: Williams 7-5 Bertens
Willaims to serve first but Bertens with the early winner to earn the mini-break. Another forehand winner by Bertens followed by a 106mph ace – her first of the match – and the Dutch qualifier has an early 3-0 lead. Serena then with a backhand pushed long and now Williams is down 0-4 and a pair of mini-breaks. Serena faults again and Bertens is quickly into the rally, but she nets a shot and she’ll serve at 4-1. A long rally ends with a bad miss from the baseline by Bertens, but she’s ahead 4-2 as they change sides. Serena with another winner and she’ll serve at 3-4, back on level terms in the breaker. A winner by Williams followed by an unforced error by Bertens and Bertens will serve at 4-5. Five straight points for Serena. A point is replayed on an overrule. Service winner off the second serve breaks Serena’s string of points, but Bertens nets a backhand on the next point and Williams will have a set point at 6-5. Calmly steps to the line. A thunderous seven-shot rally ends with Williams benefits from a netcord winner that Bertens manages to retrieve but floats it long. Serena’s good fortune is the misery of Bertens, who literally tosses her racket across her side of the court in disgust. It wasn’t pretty, but Serena has survived.
Updated
First set: Williams 6-6 Bertens
A good rally ends when Serena dumps a shot in the net. Then Williams steps in on a Bertens second serve and rips a backhand cross-court winner that paints the line. Brilliant. 15-15. Then an unforced error by Bertens ramps up the pressure at 15-30. Serena nets a forehand to make it 30-30. Another fault by Bertens, whose serve has been giving her problems, but she comes to the net quickly after getting the second serve in but puts it away with an overhand. Then a Williams error gives Bertens the game and puts it to a breaker.
First set: Williams 6-5 Bertens (*denotes next server)
Serena double-faults, but then uncorks a pair of unreturnable serves to move ahead 30-15. Then another double fault makes it’s 30-30, but a forehand pushes long by Bertens gives Williams a game point. Now a third double fault by Serena! Deuce. Serena faults again, but comes to the net when Bertens gets a good look at her second serve and puts away the point with a deft volley winner. The sequence very nearly repeats itself on game point, only Williams pushes the volley wide of the line and it’s back to deuce. Serena responds with a 125mph ace down the middle – that Bertens challenges unsuccessfully – but another double fault brings it to deuce. Then an error by Williams gives Bertens a look at a break point, but Serena quickly erases it with a service winner. A service winner followed by a Bertens forehand struck wide of the mark and it’s the Dutch qualifier who will now serve to force a first-set tiebreaker.
Williams breaks!
First set: *Williams 5-5 Bertens (*denotes next server)
A extended baseline-to-baseline rally between the players ends when Bertens nets a backhand. Serena then overcooks a forehand for her 16th unforced error of the match (to Bertens’s eight). But then the Dutch shows nerves. Her first double-fault of the match followed by another unforced error on the backhand side make it 15-40 and give Williams her first break-point chance of the match. Bertens sprays a forehand wide and they’re back on serve in the first. Early still, but that does feel fatal.
Updated
First set: Williams 4-5 Bertens* (*denotes next server)
Two quick points for Serena followed by a long rally ending with a Williams inside-out forehand winner she puncutates with a “Come on!” Williams then uncorks a 106mph ace for the love hold. Next up, it would seem, is the first major test of the day for Bertens: Can she serve out the set against an opponent who is never better than on these high-pressure points?
First set: *Williams 3-5 Bertens (*denotes next server)
Ashe is half full but the crowd is clearly behind Serena, getting behind the three-time defending champion as she forces Bertens into an error to move ahead 0-15. The Dutch forces Williams into a pair of errors to make it 30-15, but a Bertens error levels the score. Then two well-placed serves of 109mph and 102mph both pull Williams far out of position so Bertens can put away easy open-court winners on the approach. Easy hold and Williams will serve to stay in the set.
First set: Williams 3-4 Bertens* (*denotes next server)
At 15-0, another double fault from Williams to level the score. Then a moment of brilliance from Serena as she forces Bertens far outside with a backhand then puts away the point with an forehand winner on the approach that rouses the crowd. Loudest pop of the match so far. Another forehand winner on the next point followed by a forced error by Bertens and Serena has the easy hold.
First set: *Williams 2-4 Bertens (*denotes next server)
Bertens with a service winner, followed by an extended rally that ends on a Williams unforced error, followed by another service winner. 40-0, just like that. Then another emphatic serve that Williams can’t get back over the net. Impressive nerve from the world No110.
First set: Williams 2-3 Bertens* (*denotes next server)
Serena struggling with her serve early. A double-fault puts her behind 0-15, but she levels at 15-15 when Bertens blinks in a rally. Williams now having trouble with her ball toss and apologizing to Bertens. Extended rally at 15-15 ends when Bertens drop-shots, Serena crashes the net to return it and the Dutch nets the half-volley. Bertens pounces on a second serve and Williams misses wide on a backhand down the line. 30-30. They trade points to get to deuce and Serena takes the game with a 123mph ace followed by a service winner.
Updated
First set: *Williams 1-3 Bertens (*denotes next server)
Williams with a return winner to dig in at 0-15, but a sharply hit winner by Bertens that Williams can hardly get a racket on levels the score. A pair of service winners gives Bertens game point, but Williams pulls it to deuce after the Dutch sends a pair of shots well over the baseline. Bertens really pushing Williams far along the baseline with sharp angled shots into the corners, just now another that gives her another game point. Error by Bertens on brings it to deuce, but Serena responds with a pair of her own and Bertens has backed up her break.
Bertens breaks!
First set: Williams 1-2 Bertens* (*denotes next server)
Williams falls behind 0-30 on her serve, then overcooks a forehand in a baseline rally to go triple break point down. Big chance here for Bertens. Williams pipes in a 100mph ace down the middle to save the first. Then Bertens nets a shot from a step inside the baseline to bring it to 30-40. But then just as Serena is pushing back her opponent in a rally and goes for the cross-court forehand winner, the Dutch qualifier uncorks a magnificent running forehand on the run that lands inches inside the line for a winner. How about that. Serena down an early break, but can Bertens consolidate?
Updated
First set: *Williams 1-1 Bertens (*denotes next server)
A comfortable hold for Bertens who wins four of five quick points on a mix of winners and netted shots by Williams. A nice, drama-free start for the underdog.
First set: Williams 1-0 Bertens* (*denotes next server)
Williams has won the toss and elected to serve. A service winner followed by a double-fault makes it 15-15. Bartens sprays a couple of shots long to fall behind 15-40, smacking a ball into the net in disgust. Williams nets a backhand, but another unforced error by Bertens gives Serena the comfortable hold.
Not much longer now
“Two minutes please,” calls the chair umpire as Fetty Wap’s Trap Queen plays over the stadium p.a. Serena’s walkout music for Monday’s first-rounder was Drop That NaeNae, which was pretty awesome.
Serena's walkout music for her assault on history: Drop That NaeNae. pic.twitter.com/E72zI0nTHV
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) August 31, 2015
Tale of the tape
The players have emerged from the tunnel and are in their warm-ups. Here’s a look at how today’s two combatants match up.
Williams v Bertens
1 WTA ranking 110
33 Age 23
5 2015 singles titles 0
69 Career singles titles 1
80-9 Career US Open record 2-3
49-2 2015 record 10-13
724-118 Career record 46-49
$9,792,645 2015 prize money $266,624
$73,293,424 Career prize money $1,124,729
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Arthur Ashe Stadium for today’s US Open second round match between No1 seed Serena Williams and Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens. Few are giving the world No110 much of a shot in a match that’s generally been viewed as a stepping stone in Serena’s march to the first calendar-year grand slam in 27 years. Bertens herself seemed less than convinced of her chances after a first-round win over Mirjana Lucic-Baroni on Monday.
It’s going to be tough. She’s a great player and can make here the one-year slam, but I’m looking forward to it. I hope I can enjoy it. I played [Petra] Kvitova at Wimbledon, so I hope I can move forward from that.
It’s the first career meeting between Bertens and Williams, who is on a 29-match winning streak at the grand slam level having won the 2014 US Open in addition to this year’s Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. More to come from Flushing Meadows.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime why not read Kevin Mitchell’s account of Serena Williams’s first-round win over Vitalia Diatchenko.
Serena Williams, as befits the grand dame of tennis, began the pursuit of a calendar grand slam with a regal swat on the first evening of the 2015 US Open. This time, it was the turn of the poor Russian Vitalia Diatchenko, in her second appearance in New York, to fall, almost literally, before the finest player of modern times in a mere half an hour in the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It was not just one-sided, it was farcical. Diatchenko, who has had surgery on her left achilles, served lollipops from the start and retired in tears after winning just five of the 37 points played – as one might expect of someone who pulled out of her last tournament in Vancouver and was double-bageled in Stanford recently. She had her chronically weak ankle strapped at 0-5, then gently rolled over, to the bemusement and mixed sympathy of the crowd.
No doubt her pain was soothed by the $39,500 first-round appearance money, and a conciliatory hug at the net from Williams. Whether she should have even been on court is another matter. Chris Evert on ESPN said if Diatchenko dragged herself on to court just to play her idol, “that would be a shame”.
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