Serena stomps Safina; advances to US Open Final

Serena has defeated Dinara Safina, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the US Open Final!

Serena qualifies for season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships

Serena Williams has officially qualified for the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha. The world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams from the 2008 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season will compete for the Championships title and a share of the record prize money of $4.45 million. 2001 champion Williams joins previously qualified Serbs Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic in the singles line-up.

“I am delighted to have qualified again for the Sony Ericsson Championships,” said Serena Williams in a statement released by the Tour. “It’s always an honor to play at the year-end Championships, and I’m looking forward to playing in Doha where I can hopefully show my best tennis.” This season, the 26-year-old American claimed three singles titles at the Canara Bank Bangalore Open in Bangalore, the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami and the Family Circle Cup in Charleston. She was runner-up at Wimbledon, where she fell to sister Venus in her 11th career Grand Slam singles final.

The Sony Ericsson Championships is scheduled to take place at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, November 4-9, 2008.

US Open: Semifinal Friday

Semifinal
Serena Williams (USA)[4] vs Dinara Safina (RUS)[6]

Serena leads Head-to-Head 3-1

3rd Match of the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court
1st Match starts at 12pm EST

(Serena and Dinara: Not before 3:30pm EST)

US Open on CBS Network

Wow! What a match!

This encounter was truly worthy of a Final!

Serena slams Venus; advances to Semis

WOW! Serena Williams fought like a bulldog and stayed mentally tough throughout her US Open quarterfinal showdown with sister Venus. In a U.S. Open quarterfinal that was fit for a final, Serena came back in each set to win 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7) Wednesday night and break a tie in their head-to-head series. Serena trailed 5-3 in both sets. She faced set points in both, including eight in the second. But she advanced to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2002, the year she beat Venus in the title match for her second U.S. Open championship.

It was the siblings’ 17th meeting as professionals, and Serena leads 9-8. That includes 11 matches at Grand Slam tournaments, where Serena leads 6-5. She also has the edge in major championships, 8-7, and only she can add to that total this weekend. Venus had all sorts of chances to take control, but in the end, as both women's play reached a very high level, it was Serena who pulled through. In the second tiebreak, Venus had four set points -- and Serena saved them all. Then, when Serena earned her first match point, nearly 2½ hours into the match, she converted it, when Venus ended an 11-stroke exchange by missing a forehand. Serena will now meet No. 6 Dinara Safina in the semifinals.

US Open: Quarterfinal SISTER Showdown!

Quarterfinal

Serena Williams (USA)[4] vs Venus Williams (USA)[7]
Head-to-Head 8-8
(Featured Night Match)
Arthur Ashe Stadium Court (7pm EST)

US Open on USA Network

Serena defeats Severine; advances to Quarterfinal

Now comes a challenge for Venus and Serena at the U.S. Open: a match against each other. Except unlike many of their all-in-the-family faceoffs at Grand Slam tournaments, including at Wimbledon in July, this Williams vs. Williams showdown will not decide the championship.

Both advanced through the fourth round quite easily Monday. The No. 7-seeded Venus dismissed No. 9 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-1, 6-3, before No. 4 Serena dispatched wild-card entrant Severine Bremond of France 6-2, 6-2 at night.

“Even the semis would have been better than the quarterfinals, but at least one of us will make it to the semis,” Serena told the crowd during an on-court interview. “I’ve got probably the toughest match of the tournament coming up next, so I’ve got to be ready.” The sisters’ matchup Wednesday will be a tiebreaker of sorts.

They’ve played 16 times as professionals, with each winning eight. That includes 10 meetings at major tournaments, with each winning five. The most recent was when Venus beat Serena for the title at the All England Club, the seventh all-Williams Grand Slam final. “I would love to have a winning record,” Venus said. “I have a chance.”

But because of the luck of the pre-tournament draw, they were placed in the same portion of the bracket—much to the disappointment of them, U.S. Open organizers and TV types.

“The best part is that we’re still here,” Venus said, “going stronger than ever, in my opinion.” That is certainly true: Venus has lost a total of 15 games through four matches at Flushing Meadows, while Serena has lost 14.

Of the eight women left in the tournament, only two have won a Grand Slam title: Serena leads all active players with eight, and Venus is right behind with seven. They won every U.S. Open women’s singles championship from 1999 to 2002, meeting in the finals the last two years in that span. Since then, though, Serena hasn’t made it past the quarterfinals here, and Venus has only reached one semifinal.

An observation....

It just dawned on me that each of Serena's opponents in her 1st three matches was part of a doubles team that she and Venus defeated in rout to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Gold Medal: 2nd Round (Olympics) - Morita / Sugiyama (3rd Round US Open), Qtr (Olympics) - Vesnina / Zvonareva (2nd Round US Open) and Semi (Olympics) - Bondarenko / Bondarenko (1st Round US Open).

US Open: 4th Round (Monday)

4th Round

Serena Williams (USA)[4] vs Severine Bremond (FRA)
Head-to-Head 0-0
(Featured Night Match)
Arthur Ashe Stadium Court (7pm EST)

US Open on USA Network

Serena in New York!

Serena stops Sugiyama; advances to 4th Round

Serena is on a roll. She appears to be dialed in early; no "playing her way into form," she's taking care of business. Serena defeated Ai Sugiyama of Japan, 6-2, 6-1, to advance to the fourth round of the US Open. In watching the match on the CBS network, I was disappointed that much of this match was not televised. Some "bright" individual(s) felt switching to a men's match on the Grandstand warranted more TV coverage. You DirecTV subscribers have it made because you get to choose which tennis match you would like to see without fear of interruption.

CBS showed Serena holding in her opening service game, 1-0; then went to commercial (and then to the men's match Murray vs Mulzer) and when they returned to Serena's match she was rushing the net to go up 4-1. Sugiyama held to make it 4-2. Next match sighting was at 5-2; commercial (switch match) back to Arthur Ashe court and Serena wins the first set 6-2. If that "match coverage" offeneded you, you might have drop-kicked the tv for the 2nd set.

After the break, "coverage" returns at 1-1, 30-30 (2nd set) w/ Serena serving and holding to go up 2-1. Another commercial and the score is now 3-1 and THAT'S THE LAST WE SEE OF THAT MATCH. They just "had" to show the remaining portion of the match on the Grandstand between Murray and Mulzer. Oh, they did show the final point and hand shake at the net during a quick DAY'S HIGHLIGHTS clip. Serena's match did not last long and I do understand that it is only fair to "share" the "tv coverage" but come on, to cut coverage on a match at 3-1 in the 2nd set (and NEVER return to it)? Get a clue! How hot am I right now?

US Open: 3rd Round (Saturday)

3rd Round

Serena Williams (USA)[4] vs Ai Sugiyama (JPN)[30]

Serena leads Head-to-Head 3-0

3rd match of the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court
Matches begin at 11:00am EST

US Open on CBS Network

Serena advances while I rant

Serena was stunning in her 2nd Round match defeating Elena Vesnina, 6-1, 6-1. Serena only lost her serve when she was serving for the match at 5-0. For the majority of the match she served at 80+ percent but ended the match with around a 73% serving stat. (Quite impressive). Serena advances to the 3rd Round where she will meet Ai Sugiyama.

My only gripe was the commentary. Ted Robinson actually makes my blood boil when it comes to commentary on Serena. HE NEVER HAS ANYTHING POSITIVE TO SAY ABOUT SERENA but he takes every effort to try to tarnish her legacy. During the match he actually said, "people look at her like she's this champion." I wanted to reach out and touch him at that very moment. His classic line is always, "it has been "x" number of years since she did this or that." He is truly Debbie-Downer when it comes to Serena. Of all that Serena has accomplished (Career Grand Slam in Doubles and Singles, 2 time Olympic Gold Medalist, former world #1 and numerous other accolades) he never mentions the positive. He will go out of his way to say something negative. I have a strong dislike for Ted Robinson (the commentator) during Serena's matches.

For just about the entire 2nd set they (Ted, Tracy and John) totally disrespected the featured night match: they switched to Sam Querry's match for a few (and also another men's match highlight), next they switched to a live interview with Coin, the 188th ranked player who defeated #1 Ana Ivanovic, and then Ted ("Makes My Blood Boil) Robinson, Tracy Austin and John McEnroe went on a tirade about men's tennis, ALL DURING SERENA'S MATCH. I would have enjoyed this match more if I had just pressed the MUTE button. How tacky and inconsiderate that they would act in such a reckless and blatantly disrespectful manner. I expected Tracy to at least try to sway the conversation back to the match at hand but she seemed content "carrying on" with the guys. Mary Carillo, Pam Shriver, Mary Jo Fernandez or even you or I could have provided more suitable commentary. Focus people!

Oh, to wrap this up with a smile, thanks for the win SERENA!!!! Keep up the good work!

Serena's Hitting Partner Speaks

US Open: 2nd Round (Thursday)

2nd Round

Serena Williams (USA)[4] vs. Elena Vesninia (RUS)
Head-To-Head 0-0
Arthur Ashe Stadium @ 7pm EST

US Open on USA Network

US Open: Serena advances to 2nd Round

Serena launched her bid for a third U.S. Open title with a ruthless 6-1 6-4 demolition of Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko first round action Tuesday. The fourth-seeded American delivered a typically muscular display of power serving and searing groundstrokes to wrap up victory in just under an hour (57 minutes) on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. U.S. Open champion in 1999 and 2002 and runner-up to her sister Venus in 2001, Williams breezed through the opening set in just 19 minutes before breaking her opponent in the 10th game of the second to seal the win. My match highlights were the AWESOME "kicker" (Serena's kick serve) in the 2nd set at 3-3, 15-0 and the phenomenal defensive rally at 5-4, 0-15 on Bondarenko's serve. Keep up the good work Serena!

A Celebration: A Night of US Open Champions

Former US Open winners gathered at Arthur Ashe Stadium (Monday night) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Open era. Absent were: Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Jimmy Conners, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Steffi Graf and Patrick Rafter.

Celebrating 40 years of the Open Era....

Serena waves to the crowd during the opening night ceremony at the 2008 US Open. Serena was one of the former US Open champions who was recognized during the 40 Year Open Era on-court celebration at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

US Open: 1st Round (Tuesday)

1st Round
Serena Williams (USA)[4] vs. Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR)

Head-To-Head 0-0

3rd match of the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium

Matches begin at 11:00am EST

US Open on USA Network (11am - 5pm EST)