US Open 2015: Serena Williams defeated Kiki Bertens 7-6 6-3.
Friday 4 September 2015 10:54, UK
Serena Williams overcame a four-point deficit in the opening set tie-break to scrap past Kiki Bertens in the US Open second round on Wednesday.
The reigning champion was given a rough ride by the world No 110 who appeared odds-on to take the first set before Williams fought back to secure a 7-6 6-3 win.
The 33-year-old appeared overcome with emotion at points as a 30th consecutive win at Grand Slam tournaments kept her hopes alive of the first calendar Slam in 27 years, but it was a performance littered by 24 unforced errors and 10 double-faults.
Tensions on Arthur Ashe were palpable as Williams, the home favourite, trailed by four points in the first-set tie-break but showed remarkable mental resolve to stage a fightback.
Set point was thrillingly dramatic as Williams, who won five straight points to cancel out Bertens' advantage to take a 6-5 lead, enjoyed a stroke of fortune as the ball bobbled over the net in her favour. The Dutch qualifier dived at it, reached it, but missed her return and threw her racquet in disbelief.
It was a set that Bertens had largely dominated with Williams frequently failing to hold her game together, sporting a face of frustration throughout.
Bertens broke at her second attempt with a backhand winner but it was Williams' next service game that caused more concern as she fumbled her way to an unstable hold. With her third service game, a pair of powerful winners suggested she was back on course but it wasn't the case.
Bertens, instead, was defending excellently and firing back with accuracy and strength at the 21-time Grand Slam winner until, in last chance saloon, Williams came alive.
Trailing 5-4 as Bertens served for the set, Williams broke as the occasion seemingly got to the young Dutch star.
Then, after both women held their serves, Bertens streaked ahead in the tie-break only for Williams to roar back at the death.
Both players felt the effects of the gruelling tie-break as they returned for a second set, both feebly handing over early breaks with apologetic unforced errors. Williams found a second wind, looking emotional as she screamed with delight, before an overawed Bertens gave away a second break with a double-fault.
Williams was able to continue holding her serve and, in the final game, Bertens had nothing left to give, surrendering the crucial break and match point with a poor miss.
The six-time Flushing Meadows champion appeared relieved rather than celebratory as her third-round berth against Bethanie Mattek-Sands was confirmed.
Ladies' results
Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) beat Jessica Pegula (U.S.) 5-7 7-5 6-3
Kristina Mladenovic (France) beat Bojana Jovanovski (Serbia) 7-5 6-1
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (U.S.) beat CoCo Vandeweghe (U.S.) 6-2 6-1
15-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat Magda Linette (Poland) 6-3 6-2
Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat Denisa Allertova (Czech Republic) 2-6 6-3 6-1
Anett Kontaveit (Estonia) beat 31-Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) 7-5 6-4
Darya Kasatkina (Russia) beat Ana Konjuh (Croatia) 6-4 6-4
19-Madison Keys (U.S.) beat Tereza Smitkova (Czech Republic) 6-1 6-2
Madison Brengle (U.S.) beat Anna Tatishvili (U.S.) 6-3 6-2
