Serena Williams cruised through the quarterfinals, winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 over Carla Suarez-Navarro in a match that lasted only 52 minutes. Williams will meet fifth seeded Li Na of China in the semifinals tonight (Thursday). The winner will advance to
Saturday’s championship match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Williams, 31 years old and the No. 1 female player in the world, defeated 21-year-old Sloane Stephens in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. The match lasted for one hour and 27 minutes. Williams’ fastest serve during the match was timed at 125 mph. She also served up three aces in the first set and three in the second.
She and Venus Williams are also playing doubles, and they may have the opportunity to capture a doubles championship. Serena Williams says that playing doubles with Venus Williams has helped her service game. When asked how she felt about having to play other young Americans whom she continues to support and lend advice to, Serena Williams noted: “Yeah, it’s definitely difficult. Especially playing against people you like and want them to do well.”
She has been supportive of many of these players, especially Stephens. Serena Williams continued: “Yeah, it’s definitely difficult. But you have to go out there and kind of put that to the side and realize, ‘I want to do well myself and take every point as it comes.’”
In a post-match interview, Stephens said, “Serena is No. 1 for a reason.”
Serena Williams was asked what did she think Stephens needed to do to get to the next level. “She don’t need to do anything. I thought she was at the next level,” said Serena Williams.
Keep an eye out for American hopeful Victoria Duval. She is ranked 298 in the world and entered the 2013 U.S. Open as a qualifier and was paired against No. 11 seed and former 2011 U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur. Young Duval defeated Stosur in an outstanding 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 match that lasted two hours and 39 minutes.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams is on another planet as she continues to sweep through the field on her way to perhaps serving her way to another U.S. Open championship. She is focused and has her eyes on the prize that she hopes to cradle on Saturday. But first, she has to avoid getting careless in her semifinal match tonight. That would be devastating, especially after she has overwhelmed all of her opponents and has only two left.