By Erik Gudris | Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Serena Williams needed a three-set rally to overcome fellow mom Tsvetana Pironkova to reach the US Open semifinals.
Photo credit: @USOpen
Whatever it takes.
That seemed to be the mantra for Serena Williams as she fought her way past Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria in a back-and-forth three-set battle. In the end, Williams emerged the winner as she booked her place into her 11th straight US Open semifinal.
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Yet Williams had to hit just about every shot there is to win this one. Including two surprise left handed returns to keep her in the match.
The fourth-seeded Williams advanced with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Pironkova.
After the win, Williams gave credit to Pironkova, who like her, is a working mother on the tour.
“Just shows me how tough moms are. Whenever you can birth a baby then honestly, you can do anything,” Williams said.
The 32-year-old Pironkova, whose career high ranking was No. 31 in the world, had not played in a tournament for three years since giving birth to her son. That lack of match play didn’t matter as she worked her way into her first ever US Open quarterfinal after solid wins over Garbine Muguruza and Alize Cornet in previous rounds.
“That’s unbelievable. I couldn’t even do that,” Williams said about Pironkova’s comeback. “I couldn’t even win a match when I came back. She’s incredible.”
Yet Pironkova is no stranger to the Grand Slam stage as she reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2010. Pironkova, with her unique game that includes a perfect two handed backhand, flat groundstrokes, and a variety of slices on both sides, is not an easy player to face. Williams led the head to head 4-0, but they had not faced each other since 2015.
From the start, Pironkova played composed tennis while Williams looked flat energy wise. Pironkova served much stronger and harder than in previous rounds and that kept Williams on edge early in the first set.
Pironkova then secured the initial service break with a fine backhand down the line winner for 3-2.
“I was definitely feeling it a little bit in my legs and for whatever reason an hour in I get more energy,” Williams said of her slow start. “I don’t really get tired, just in the beginning I was a little fatigued for whatever reason.”
Williams struggled to find her rhythm against Pironkova who would mixed up flat backhands and forehand slices during the rallies. Williams also could not pick up on her opponent’s serving patterns.
Not facing a break point, Pironkova soon served out the set 6-4.
Pironkova broke again to start the second set after Williams struck a forehand error while down break point. It seemed that the surprise quarterfinalist might just pull off the surprise upset.
But, like many times before, Williams found a way to win when not playing at her best.
Pironkova wavered trying to hold serve in the next game. Williams took advantage of several shaky second serves from her opponent to get the break back for 1-all.
Williams slowly began finding her range on Pironkova’s shots. But even Williams was forced to improvise to stay in the set. On serve at 4-3, Williams then proceeded into a wild sequence of points that included, first, a left-handed return.
And then, Williams won a lung-busting 25-shot rally that would help secure a service break.
Williams then hit three aces in a row to close out the set 6-3. From there, Williams looked in control.
Williams broke Pironkova to open the third set.
Now in the lead, Williams used her big serve to keep her out in front. To her credit, Pironkova stayed in touch with Williams mid-way through the set. But the cumulative effect of her previous matches also seemed to take their effect on Pironkova.
Williams, leading 4-2, attacked Pironkova’s slower second serve with better precision. Several return winners for Williams earned yet another break point. Williams ripped a backhand winner to secure the double break lead for 5-2.
After her 20th ace, Williams soon secured the tough three set win that puts her back in the semifinals.
Williams awaits the winner of the second quarterfinal between Victoria Azarenka and Elise Mertens. Williams hopes she can recover quickly in time.
“The good news I’m used to playing back to back to back. I just need how to start a little bit faster.”