This is Laurel Moyse signing off. We hope you enjoyed this commentary of Serena Williams vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the US Open. We hope you have a good night.
In the first set, we saw Serena struggle with her footwork and rhymth. Her serve was not at its strongest. Mattek-Sands played with lots of variety and at her best to take the set. She was efficient, converting on both of her break points, while Serena was not able to convert her own. The beginning of the second set was more of the same, but as the set progressed, Serena seemed to find her rhymth and her serve improved. She took the momentum after sher served to stay in the set and kept it as she dominated the third set, where she finally started to convert her break points. Serena will face Madison Keys, another powerful American, in the next round.
6-0 in the third set.
30-40: Serena with a couple great overhead shots to win the match. Game, set, match Serena Williams.
15-40: Mattek-Sands saves the second match point when Serena sends it long.
0-40: Serena whiffs the return. Sends it long.
0-30: Mattek-Sands' backhand well long.
0-15: Great forehand cross court Serena to win the point.
0-0: Mattek-Sands sends a forehand shot long.
Serena one game away from the second week.
40-30: With an ace down the tee, Serena wins her seventh straight game.
40-15: Serena nets a backhand.
30-15: Mattek-Sands shot way out.
15-15: Serena with a big passing shot forehand. Does the splits as she hits it.
0-15: Mattek-Sands sends it out.
0-0: Serena sends a Mattek-Sands return that she thought was going to be long into the net.
15-40: Serena hustles for a tough ball near the net. Wins the point with a volley.
15-30: Mattek-Sands sends a ball long.
15-15: Big winner from Serena.
0-15: Serena nets the return.
0-0: Serena takes the first point as the returner.
Ad Serena: A long return from Mattek-Sands.
40-40: Mattek-Sands sends a shot long off a big one from Serena.
30-40: Serena wins the point. Saves the break.
30-30: Long backhand from Serena.
15-30: Serena beats her.
15-15: Mattek-Sands hits a nice winner past Serena into the corner. Serena applauds.
15-0: Double fault from Serena.
0-0: Ace from Serena.
15-40: Double fault from Mattek-Sands to give Serena the early break.
15-30: Mattek-Sands sends it out.
15-15: Mattek-Sands can't reach the ball in time off the return.
15-0: Serena beats Mattek-Sands.
0-0: Unreturned serve from Mattek-Sands.
40-0: Serena hits a shot past Mattek-Sands, who came up the court on the return.
30-0: Serena runs for a short return and wins the point.
15-0: Serena with a slice near the net, wins the point.
0-0: After a few good shots at the net, Serena wins the point with a smash.
Serena's coach saying she hasn't been efficient in this match. Not converting break points well. Also not satisfied with her serve.
Mattek-Sands is off the court for a minute.
Serena: 41 winners, 24 unforced errors. Bethanie: 12 winners, 5 unforced errors.
We're going the distance in this match.
30-40: Mattek-Sands' shot is long and Serena takes the set.
15-40: Serena sends a shot wide into the doubles court.
0-40: Serena nets the return.
0-30: Serena one point from the set now.
0-15: Serena wins the point.
0-0: Mattek-Sands sends a backhand long.
40-0: Serena wins the game and leads 6-5.
30-0: Serena wins the point and has three chances to win the game and stay in the match.
15-0: Another winner from Serena. She's not looking happy with her play.
0-0: Serena with a backhand winner down the line.
40-15: Another return out.
30-15: Mattek-Sands responds.
30-0: Serena takes the point.
15-0: Serena sends a return wide. Looking nervous.
0-0: Serena nets a volley return.
On serve in the second set. Serena down one set to love.
30-40: Mattek-Sands breaks when Serena nets a shot.
30-30: Another double from Serena.
30-15: Long backhand from Serena off a nice approach shot from Mattek-Sands.
30-0: Double fault from Serena.
15-0: Another point to Serena.
0-0: Serena with a nice cross court backhand winner from the net.
15-40: Huge scream from Serena as Mattek-Sands sends a shot nice and long, giving Serena the break.
15-30: Serena wins the point with a passing shot. Has more break points.
15-15: Serena with a big backhand winner off a slow second serve.
0-15: Serena slides for a ball in the corner and returns it wide.
0-0: Serena wins the point with an open court forehand.
Four games to three for Serena.
40-15: Serena takes the game.
30-15: Mattek-Sands loses her last challenge on a Serena ace that was good.
30-0: Mattek-Sands with a clear cross court winner.
15-0: Mattek-Sands can't get the return over again.
0-0: Mattek-Sands can't get the return over.
40-15: Serena nets the return.
30-15: Serena sends a return well long.
30-0: Serena wins the next point.
15-0: Mattek-Sands with a great low volley.
0-0: Serena sends an overhead way out off a Mattek-Sands passing shot that would have been wide.
0-40: Serena wins the game with a shot into the corner.
0-30: Mattek-Sands' shot is just wide and she loses the challenge. She has one challenge left.
0-15: Serena wins the point when Mattek-Sands sends a shot just wide.
0-0: Serena beats Mattek-Sands with a forehand.
Ad Mattek-Sands: Serena sends a forehand long on the return. Mattek-Sands saves more break points. Serena hitting flat.
40-40: Mattek-Sands manages to save a slice from the net by Serena, who can't chase it down.
Ad Serena: Serena's 12th break point. She has only converted one. Can't save a Mattek-Sands' low forehand with a volley.
40-40: Mattek-Sands misses a volley, sends it into the net.
Ad Mattek-Sands: Serena comes to the net and wins the point.
40-40: After a few shots, Serena nets a forehand.
30-40: Serena nets a return. Deuce.
15-40: Serena with a long return.
15-30: Serena with a cross court forehand winner. Takes advantage of a slow serve.
15-15: Mattek-Sands with another double fault.
0-15: Serena sends a return long.
0-0: Mattek-Sands with a double fault.
40-0: Mattek-Sands sends a return into the net and Serena holds serve.
30-0: Serena with a big cross court backhand winner.
15-0: Serena wins the point with a volley from the net.
0-0: Mattek-Sands loses the first point on Serena's serve.
Ad Mattek-Sands: Serena nets another with Mattek-Sands pulling out the game.
40-40: Serena nets one.
30-40: Serena with a wide return. Frustrated.
15-40: Mattek-Sands saves the first break point.
15-30: Serena runs to the net to get a short ball and win the point with a cross court.
0-30: Mattek-Sands gets one back.
0-15: Serena better this game. takes the point.
0-0: Strong return from Serena wins her the first point.
40-15: Serena wins the point with a big serve.
30-15: Mattek-Sands sends it out.
15-15: Serena wins the next point.
15-0: Mattek-Sands challenges, but loses on a volley from Serena.
0-0: Serena responds by winning the first point.
First time Serena has lost a set to an American at the US Open since her sister Venus took one a few years ago. 2005.
Ad Mattek-Sands: Serena sends a forehand return wide by a good margin and Mattek-Sands takes the set.
40-40: Serena sends a big forehand shot long.
Ad Serena: That was well wide from Serena.
40-40: Mattek-Sands sends a forehand wide.
30-40: An ace is overturned on review. Serena sends the next forehand return long.
15-40: Serena sends the return quite long.
15-30: Mattek-Sands nets another shot. Double break point.
15-15: Mattek-Sands can't get her low volley over the net.
0-15: Serena nets the return.
0-0: Serena with a huge overhead winner after a second serve.
40-15: Serena wins the game with an odd topspin volley.
40-0: Mattek-Sands wins the point.
30-0: Another unreturnable serve.
15-0: Again can't return the Serena serve.
0-0: Mattek-Sands sends a return long.
Ad Mattek-Sands: Serena nets a shot after a big serve .
40-40: Serena challenges a late call of out on her shot. She loses it.
30-40: Mattek-Sands with a nice volley winner. Serena slips trying to get it.
30-30: Mattek-Sands misses a Serena forehand.
15-30: Mattek-Sands wins the point with a nice cross court forehand.
15-15: Mattek-Sands sends a backhand wide.
0-15: Mattek-Sands wins the point with a shot down the line.
0-0: Serena wins the matches longest rally with a cross court forehand. Good defense from Mattek-Sands.
15-40: Mattek-Sands wins the game with an overhead shot.
15-30: Serena nets a rally ball off the forehand. Not moving her feet enough.
0-30: Serena responds with an ace.
0-15: Serena double faults.
0-0: Serena with the shot wide.
Ad Serena: Serena wins the point after Mattek-Sands sends a desperate volley long.
40-40: Another second serve. Serena wins it with a cross court forehand.
Ad Mattek-Sands: Mattek-Sands nets a shot.
40-40: Mattek-Sands wins the point for ad.
Ad Serena: Mattek-Sands responds and Serena sends a shot into the crowd beside her.
40-40: Serena with a backhand winner off a second serve.
40-30: Serena with a cross court winner. Deuce.
30-30: Serena nets the return off Mattek-Sands' second serve.
15-30: Mattek-Sands wins the point with two great volleys.
0-30: Serena nets a shot during a short rally.
0-15: Mattek-Sands gets beat at the net.
0-0: Mattek-Sands sends a shot just wide.
Serena on the board. Mattek-Sands leads 3-1.
40-30: Mattek-Sands returns a second serve long.
30-30: Serena with two lets in a row, still on first serve. She beats Mattek-Sands with a cross-court shot.
15-30: Serena beats Mattek-Sands with a forehand winner, who went to the net.
0-30: Mattek-Sands can't manage the return off a big serve.
0-15: Serena nets a forehand.
0-0: After a short rally, Mattek-Sands wins the point with a drop shot.
Great start for Mattek-Sands as she jumps to a 3-0 lead after facing a breakpoint on her serve in the opening game.
40-0: And another. Serena not feeling the rhymth as Mattek-Sands holds at love.
30-0: Another wide return from Serena.
15-0: Serena sends a big return wide.
0-0: Mattek-Sands with a second serve. Serena whips the return long.
15-40: Serena sends a forehand long, gets broken.
15-30: Mattek-Sands wins an approach shot.
0-30: Serena with the ace.
0-15: Mattek-Sands wins the point.
0-0: Mattek-Sands with a good response, wins the first point.
Ad Mattek-Sands: Serena with another return far out.
40-40: Serena sends a return wide.
Ad Serena: Serena misplays for deuce.
40-40: Serena wins for ad.
40-30: Serena with a forehand winner.
40-15: Serena wins the point.
30-15: Serena hits a return out.
30-0: Mattek-Sands sends a ball wide in short rally.
15-0: Serena returns Mattek-Sands' second serve into the net.
0-0: Serena returns Mattek-Sands' serve into the net.
Mattek-Sands to serve.
Serena's coach said that she was pushing off too early with her legs during her serving motion against Bertens. Her timing was off. Serena will be looking to improve that serve this match.
Both players are on court warming up now.
The players are heading to court now.
After her last match against Kiki Bertens, Serena was unhappy with her play and practiced for about an hour. She said she worked on getting balls over the net. Serena had four double faults in one game in that match. Look for her to try to get off to a much better start in this match and raise her level of play.
Here at VAVEL, we have breakdowns of both the men's and women's draws as well as roundtables amongst the writers as they talked about their favorites, dark horses and much more. Click here for the men's preview. Click here for the women's preview. Click here for the men's roundtable. Click here for the women's roundtable.
Serena is never one to look ahead or say she's getting nervous, but it's pretty much go time from here on out. A potential road of Mattek-Sands, Radwanska/Keys, Bencic/Venus, Svitolina/Makarova/Bouchard, and Kvitova/Halep is one daunting road for a shot at history. At 33 years old though, she continues to define an era where the trend of young players are coming up looking to win Grand Slams and majors right away. Just hold on a minute, Serena isn't going anywhere just yet.
Mattek-Sands could prove to be one of the most difficult opponents for Serena on her way to a potential Calendar Slam. The two-time major champ in doubles this year offers an eccentric look, and we're not just talking about her fashion. She may not have the same arsenal of shots as Agnieszka Radwanska, but she can still mix it up quite a bit from drop shots to slices to lobs or to hitting flat or with some spin on the ball. Mattek-Sands will also be looking to attack the net more than her opponent because of the fact she plays doubles. Volleying should be a forte now for Mattek-Sands so the number of times she gets up to net and the number of points she wins there will be a strong indicator of what is going on for Mattek-Sands.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands will be facing her second straight American when meeting Ms. Williams. In the opening round, Mattek-Sands took out qualifier Kateryna Kozlova in straight sets. In her last match, she met Coco Vandeweghe, who knocked off Sloane Stephens in the first round. The elder of the two Americans clearly was frustrating her younger opposition in what was a winnable match for the Wimbledon quarterfinalist. It was such a blowout, 6-2, 6-1, that there was much more applause and cheering for Vandeweghe smashing her racket rather than the actual points in the match. Now that is saying something.
She faced off against Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands in the second round. The American hadn't met Bertens until yesterday, and that played to the Dutch woman's advantage. Serena looked extremely tight throughout the match serving up a number of double faults and falling behind in the opening set. Bertens would serve out for the first set but failed to do so as a tiebreaker ensued. The Dutch woman was 4-0 up in the breaker and still managed to lose thanks to the resiliency of Williams. It was a much more straightforward second set winning 6-3.
In her opening match against Vitalia Diatchenko, Serena absolutely steamrolled the Russian. You could just tell in the opening service game for the Russian that she wasn't up for this massive task at hand to try and knock off Serena. It was a massive task for anyone, but it even put more of a burden on the Russian who has never won a match at Flushing Meadows nor played on Arthur Ashe for a matter of fact, let alone a night session against the world's best. In a matter of seven minutes, Serena was up 3-0 with Diatchenko failing to do anything much in terms of serving. The Russian retired after Serena made it eight straight games on the bounce for a 6-0, 2-0 victory.
We know that every major media outlet is pretty much shoving this down your throats, but the significance of one could happen in Flushing Meadows is massive. A win in New York will give Serena Williams the Calendar Slam. This feat has not been done since Steffi Graf did it in 1988 when she won a Golden Slam that year after winning gold at the Olympic Games. Only three women have ever achieved this feat: Graf, Margaret Court, and Maureen Connolly Brinkley. Serena is currently on 21 major titles and is just one behind Graf for most all-time in the Open Era and three behind Court for most all-time.
The first thing you'll notice about these two women, other the fact that they are American, is that they have five of six Grand Slam titles between them on the year. We all know Serena is chasing the Calendar Slam with yet another win in New York. Mattek-Sands, partnering with French Open finalist Lucie Safarova, won the Australian Open and French Open with the Czech. It was a mighty impressive haul of trophies for the Czech on that weekend in Paris as she also finished runner-up at the French. Safarova crashed out early at the US Open to Lesia Tsurenko. The Czech has been diagnosed with a broken rib.
Welcome to live coverage of the US Open! My name is Laurel Moyse, and I am happy to be bringing you point-by-point coverage of the third round match featuring Serena Williams and Bethanie Mattek-Sands here on VAVEL. From now until the match begins, news and notes will be above to get you up to speed. Be sure to return at match time for point-by-point updates!