«Breaking News» Serena Williams surges into US Open final with win over Anastasija Sevastova

Serena Williams stands one match away from winning her first Grand Slam title since becoming a mother and her 24th overall after she powered into the US Open final.

Surging to the net and roared on by a boisterous crowd on a covered Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 36-year-old American ended up crushing her friendless opponent Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-0 in just 66 minutes.

She can now equal Margaret Court's tally of major singles championships if she can defeat either compatriot Madison Keys or Japan's Naomi Osaka, who were playing in the second semi-final. Saturday will be her 31st final.

Serena Williams plays a forehand during her US Open semi-final win over Anastasija Sevastova

Williams celebrates after winning a point during the first set at Flushing Meadows on Thursday

Sevastova won the opening two games but was then quickly blown away by her opponent

Barely a year after giving birth to daughter Olympia, Williams is on the cusp of regaining her winning ways at nearly 37 years old, having returned to the tour in March but only recent rediscovered the movement necessary to triumph.

'I just was like "I've got to play a little better", the crowd helped me out after the first two games,' she said of her start. 'They wanted to see me play and I wanted to give them the best that I can.

'I've been working hard on my volleys and I have won a few doubles championships so I know how to volley, I usually just come in to shake hands and knew if I wanted to have a chance I had to come in (to the net). I wanted to try something different today and it worked in my favour.

'It's honestly incredible (a year ago) I was fighting literally for my life in the hospital after I had the baby so every time I step on court I am grateful for the opportunity to play this sport, every time I play I feel like I've already won.

'I'm just beginning, this has only been a few months.'

Sevastova, 28, has soared into the top 20 after resuming her career, having quit for two years in her early twenties when she became disillusioned with the game.

The US Open has been her most successful Grand Slam and she has had big match experience on the Arthur Ashe Stadium before, having brought Maria Sharapova's high profile run to an end last year in the fourth round.

Williams will compete for her seventh US Open title at Flushing Meadows this weekend

The 36-year-old has returned to top form following the birth of her first child, Alexis Olympia

Sevastova grimaces during her straight sets defeat by Williams on Thursday evening

The roof had been closed all day on what promised to be the last of the heatwave that had engulfed the tournament. It would have been needed with rain starting to fall outside at the start.

Williams was attempting to avoid a third successive defeat at this stage and, despite being the massive crowd favourite, again looked edgy at the start, as she had in the previous round against Karolina Pliskova.

She immediately lost her serve but then broke back to level at 2-2 after the Latvian's clever dropshots began to misfire.

It did not take her long to get into her stride and use her superior firepower to start overwhelming a neat but non-lethal opponent. Five consecutive games put Williams in command as she started coming into the net and volleying like Martina Navratilova.

Williams stayed on the charge and Sevastova's morale sagged as she was broken twice in the second set, her elegant backhand letting her down and it was one-way traffic from there onwards with Williams winning twelve of the last thirteen games.

Link article

https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/07/serena-williams-surges-into-us-open-final-with-win-over-anastasija-sevastova/
Main photo article Serena Williams stands one match away from winning her first Grand Slam title since becoming a mother and her 24th overall after she powered into the US Open final.
Surging to the net and roared on by a boisterous crowd on a covered Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 36-year-old American ended up crushing...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Sport HienaLouca





https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/07/01/4FCE020300000578-6141311-image-a-9_1536278750943.jpg