By Erik Gudris | Friday, August 21, 2015
Serena Williams needed three sets against Ana Ivanovic before moving ahead into the semifinals in Cincinnati.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Serena Williams once again found herself playing from behind in a match only to come through in three sets. This time against Ana Ivanovic at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati to reach the semifinals.
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Now 16-1 in three set matches this season, the World No. 1 calls her often winning act by a familiar name.
"I did a Serena," Williams said just after the win that was a rematch of last year's final. For a while, it looked Ivanovic just might again pull off a surprise win.
The No. 6 Ivanovic employed aggressive tactics early in the opening set to great effect. Standing deep in the court to take on Williams's second serve, Ivanovic often blasted away winners from both wings. Ivanovic, despite falling behind an early break, soon jumped out to a 4-1 lead.
Though Williams would break back, poor serving from the top seed, including a double fault on break point, put Ivanovic ahead 5-3.
With a potent backhand winner, a confident Ivanovic claimed the set 6-3.
Could Ivanovic, using similar tactics that helped her beat Williams at the Australian Open last year, do it again? That question wouldn't be answered in the second set.
Ivanovic threw in two double faults in a poor service game to hand Williams an early break to start the set. Though Williams opened up a 3-0 lead, her own serving woes would cause another momentum shift.
With Williams first serve percentage hovering below 40%, Ivanovic again pressured with her strong returns and soon found herself level at 3-all. Williams countered by pressuring Ivanovic's own serve, especially when back up 5-4.
Strong returns from Williams soon yielded her several set points. She took the set 6-4 on her third set point with potent backhand approach.
The final set though was not certain for Williams as she again fell behind an early break. Though Ivanovic would take a quick 2-0 lead, it would be her last lead of the match.
Incredible defense from Williams during an extended rally in the fourth game proved too much for Ivanovic who netted what would have been a winning forehand. That gave Williams a break point that she later converted on for 2-all.
Williams then in the next game struck her seventh ace of the final set to take a 3-2 lead. With Williams playing much better than she had all match, the pressure was back on Ivanovic to respond.
Yet the former French Open champion could not execute the same aggressive tactics as she did before. A double fault from Ivanovic set up another break point for Williams that she converted for 4-2. By now Ivanovic looked even more discouraged as Williams raced ahead to the finish line.
Serving down 2-5, Ivanovic faded quickly as she found herself at 0-40 on her serve. On Williams' first match point, Ivanovic tossed in her 11th double fault to hand Williams the 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Williams noted to ESPN's Darren Cahill, "I was a little lethargic in the first set and then she played incredibly well and hitting winners off some really big serves. So I think that had a lot to do with it and I had to play better."
The defending event champion also felt her performance in the final set was a much needed improvement as she heads into the US Open.
"The last six games were the best I've played all summer since Wimbledon so that's a good sign and hopefully I can keep that momentum into the next round."
Williams will next face the winner of the Lucie Safarova versus Elina Svitolina match.