Serena Williams faced her trickiest opponent in the US Open so far as she had to play the fifth seed Simona Halep. The American started the match dominating Halep in every aspect but things took a dramatic turn in the second set when Halep improved her game and play the best games of the match on her way to win the second set and force a decider.
The third set started with both players still playing their best. But it was Williams who struck first and that only break was enough to give her the victory. In over two hours, Serena Williams defeated Simona Halep 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. In the semifinals, she will play number ten in the world, Karolina Pliskova for a spot in the grand final.
Williams too strong for Halep
It was a great start for the world number one who started her match with a hold and a break to quickly lead 2-0. Williams consolidated the game with an amazing game of serve where Halep couldn’t return her powerful serves as the American went up 3-0. The Romanian was able to get on the scoreboard after holding, but the dominance of Williams was still notorious. It all came to Williams serve again and for the first time in the match she made a few unforced errors that eventually gifted Halep a double break point. Halep missed one, but a long ball from Williams helped her retrieve the break.
However, the top seed was determined to take the lead again and she got herself a break point but lost it after an unforced error to level things to deuce. Halep’s first serve was missing and her second serve was attacked easily, but her defensive skills helped her to save a second break point. Fighting to level up the scoreboard turned out to be more difficult for Halep who gave the break back to Williams after hitting a double fault on her third break point.
Serving 4-2, Williams showed some signs of trouble with her first serve but they didn’t cause harm as Halep couldn’t cease her unforced errors. Down a break and with an extremely dominant Serena Williams, the Romanian was running all over the court trying to the defend which often left her in an awkward position, something the American took advantage of as she scored two set points. An unforced error from Halep handed her the break and the first set, 6-2.
Halep comes back to force a decider
Once again, Williams struggled to get on her first serve but still managed to hold the opening game. Three unforced errors gave in no time Williams three break points, but she lost them after three errors. The top seed got another one after hitting a drop shot that Halep couldn’t reach but once again she let it go after a backhand error. Halep saved a fifth break point after an amazing rally that she ended up winning with a smash. The American was quick to get a sixth break point but Halep didn’t concede after hitting a powerful and fast backhand down the line to force the deuce.
For the first time, Halep got a game point after a missed return from Williams but she didn’t take it as she hit a long forehand. A seventh break point would be in order after a volley winner but at the moment the American couldn’t win two points in a row. From behind the baseline, Halep dictated the point to get another game point and this time it was Williams who failed and helped the Romanian to hold to level things at 1-1.
After wasting seven chances, Williams started to make more unforced errors and that translated to her service game when she handed Halep two break points but she saved both with an ace. A third ace gave the top seed a chance to turn around the game and take it but Halep threw her off balance after a forehand to end up the point with a backhand winner.
A double fault created a new chance for Halep to break but she saved it after hitting an ace that Halep left in the net. The Romanian was more confident than in the first set as she returned every point with more power and with that she gained another break point. This time, the American hit another double fault to give the break. Halep now led 2-1.
Halep’s confidence was at its highest point as her serve also notoriously improved and consolidated the break to lead 3-1. The Romanian once again gave some trouble to the American who had to recover from being down 0-30 to eventually win the game after an amazing rally that ended when Halep hit a forehand into the net. Halep held, only losing on point on her serve to lead 4-2. An almost perfect game of serve for Williams helped her to stay close to Halep, but she was still down 3-4.
A consistent Halep held once again to be up 5-3 and be one game away from being the first one to take a set from Williams in the tournament. With problems with her first serve and not very precise, Williams faced set point on her serve but it didn’t last long as Halep left a return in the net to level to deuce. The American had a game point but her fourth double fault sent it back to deuce. Two great serves put Williams 4-5 and the pressure on Halep to serve for the second set.
An aggressive Williams showed up to attempt to break Halep and stay in the set, the American got herself a break point but lost it after an unforced error. The first set point came after Williams hit a wide forehand, but an aggressive move from the top seed erased it. A second break point happened when Halep hit a lob that went long but she saved it with a forehand winner.
A missed return gave Halep a second set point but she couldn’t convert it as Williams hit a volley that touched the baseline. Williams threw away her third time to break and Halep got herself also a third set point but Williams again didn’t allow it as she hit a forehand winner. On her fourth set point, Simona Halep was able to finally convert after a long backhand from her opponent to take the second set, 6-4.
A break is enough to give the victory to Williams
Halep had the chance to strike first as she had two break points but couldn’t convert any. Williams held but the Romanian still gave her a hard time. Halep had two game points but threw them away with two double faults in a row but she eventually ended up holding to tie at 1-1. The top seed went up 2-1 after a solid hold of serve. Things started to complicate to Halep when she faced a double break point after a few unforced errors, a forehand into the net gave Williams the break to up 3-1.
A solid hold confirmed the break and the American now led 4-1. Still a break down, but Halep didn’t give her serve a second time to keep the gap close. The Romanian wasn’t playing bad, but Williams had increased her level and her first serve which helped her hold to love to lead 5-2. Simona Halep had a solid game of serve but she was still a break down and Williams was about to serve for the match. Three great points from the American gave her three match points. Halep saved one with an amazing running backhand but a long forehand ended up the match and gave Williams her pass to the semifinals.
Next for Serena Williams
In the semifinals, Serena Williams will face first time Grand Slam semifinalist, Karolina Pliskova who defeated Ana Konjuh in the quarterfinals. This will be the second time they play each other. The first one was in 2014 at Stanford where the world number one won in straight sets.
