US Open 2016: Serena Williams Into Semi final

Serena Williams was pushed hard by fifth seed Simona Halep before coming through in three sets to reach the semi-finals of the US Open.

The American six-time champion won a gripping contest 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Flushing Meadows night session to close in on a 23rd Grand Slam singles title.

Williams, 34, will play Czech 10th seed Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows (00:00 BST, Friday).

They will be followed by Angelique Kerber against Caroline Wozniacki.

Williams and Kerber are battling for the world number one ranking, with the American knowing that, to hang on to top spot, she must reach the final.

Should the German second seed line up as her opponent on Saturday, Williams will have to beat her to stay on top.

Pliskova, 24, beat Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh 6-2 6-2 to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time.

She did not face a break point and dropped only five points on her serve as she swept past the 18-year-old in just 57 minutes.

“I am so excited to be in my first semi-final, especially in this tournament,” said Pliskova. “I very much love New York and the hard-court season.”

BBC

US Open 2016: Serena Williams Into Semi final

Serena Williams Out Of Rogers Cup With Injury

World number one Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week’s Rogers Cup in Montreal because of an injury.

The two-time champion has not played since winning her seventh Wimbledon title and has pulled out with inflammation in her shoulder.

Title holder Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have already pulled out of the men’s event in Toronto.

Williams, 34, will defend her singles and doubles titles when the Olympic tennis event begins in Rio on 6 August.

“Of course, we are disappointed that Serena will not play in the tournament this year,” said Toronto tournament director Eugenie Lapierre.

“Because this is an Olympic year, the players have very full schedules. Sometimes your body needs rest. We hope that Serena will recover quickly and wish her much success for the rest of the season.”

BBC

 

Serena Williams Out Of Rogers Cup With Injury

French Open : Djokovic, Nadal Reach Milestones As Serena Eases On

World number one Novak Djokovic and nine-time winner Rafael Nadal racked up Grand Slam milestones at the French Open on Thursday (May 26) as Serena Williams coasted into the third round.

Top seed Djokovic, looking for a Roland Garros title to complete a career Grand Slam, claimed his 50th win at the tournament by seeing off Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

It was the Serb’s third win in three career meetings with Darcis, a player nicknamed ‘Shark’ who dumped Nadal out of Wimbledon in 2013. But it was far from a smooth display from the 11-time major winner and three-time French Open runner-up who committed 42 unforced errors.

 

Djokovic next takes on Britain’s Slovenian-born Aljaz Bedene who reached the third round of a major for the first time with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 6-2 win over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

Nine-time champion Nadal became just the eighth man to record up 200 Grand Slam match wins as he saw off Argentina’s world number 99 — and fellow left-hander — Facundo Bagnis 6-3, 6-0, 6-3.

Nadal, 29, dropped the first two games against Bagnis but then won 18 of the next 22 to ease into a last-32 clash against Spanish compatriot Marcel Granollers.

French Open : Djokovic, Nadal Reach Milestones As Serena Eases On