Serena Williams Overcomes Maria Sakkari to Reach US Open Quarter-finals
Six-time champion Serena Williams battled through a challenging three-set test against Greek 15th seed Maria Sakkari to reach the US Open quarter-finals.
Williams, 38, looked composed as she took the first set in 37 minutes.
The third seed lost a close tie-break in the second and was forced to find her best tennis to come from a break down in the third and win 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 almost two hours later.
“I just kept fighting,” Williams said.
“She was doing so well. She was being so aggressive and I knew I needed to do the same thing.”
The American is seeking a 24th Grand Slam singles title as she attempts to equal Margaret Court’s record.
Her next opponent is Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova, who has never reached the US Open quarter-finals before and is playing her first tournament since Wimbledon 2017.
Pironkova beat French world number 56 Alize Cornet 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3.
American second seed Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open winner, lost 6-3 6-3 to Elise Mertens of Belgium.
Mertens, seeded 16th, will face Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the last eight after the former world number one reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final in more than four years.
The 31-year-old fought back from a set down to beat Czech 20th seed Karolina Muchova 5-7 6-1 6-4.
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Williams had initially looked vulnerable when she went a set down in her third-round match against Sloane Stephens and again it was Sakkari who had the faster start.
The pair had met two weeks previously in the last 16 of the Western and Southern Open, when Williams let a set and break lead slip to lose.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion was threatened when Sakkari set up three break points at 2-2 in the first set, but the Greek could not take the early opportunity.
The momentum changed hands as Williams dominated a rally with pacy forehands to break the world number 22’s serve at the third attempt.
And an ace down the middle sealed a hold to love to give the American the first set.
