NEW YORK (US) – Six-time champion Serena Williams fought hard to secure a 4-6 6-3 6-2 US Open quarter-final victory over unseeded Bulgarian player Tsvetana Pironkova on Wednesday. She is keeping alive her bid for a record record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title.
Serena had to struggle with Pironkova’s slice forehand early and risked going out of the US Open for the first time in 14 years. However, she used her experience to find a way back against the resurgent Bulgarian.
“I’m happy to be standing here … because at one point I was pretty close to not being here,” Serena said. “I keep fighting and that’s one thing that I am super excited about is I never give up.”
Pironkova dropped to 0-5 in career head-to-head meetings with Serena. Her loss marks the end of her US Open run, which is her first professional match since Wimbledon in 2017.
Returning after a gap of more than three years, Pironkova, who had a baby in early 2018, made a nice start with 4-2 in the first set.
Serena saved two set points on serve to pull within 4-5, her opponent secured the opener with a backhand crosscourt winner.
Serena secured a 24-point rally to break and open up a 5-3 lead and then, after falling behind 15-30 on her serve, she fired three consecutive aces.
Serena broke to start the third set during which she even hit a left-handed shot.
“Definitely was feeling it in my legs,” Williams said of her flat start.
