NEW YORK — Two former U.S. Open champions took the court in the big vacant bowl that is Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the …
NEW YORK — Two former U. S. Open champions took the court in the big vacant bowl that is Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the most anticipated match of this year‘s completely bizarre Grand Slam. The noise was manufactured, the masks ubiquitous, the energy having to be summoned by the competitors themselves. None of the pandemic-produced oddities could derail Serena Williams, who recovered from a sluggish start to take down fellow American Sloane Stephens,2-6,6-2,6-2 to move into the round of 16. Stephens, the 2017 Open champion who was once ranked as high as No.3, was sensational in the opening set, dictating play and moving Williams around like a chess piece. The match pivoted when Williams forged a break in Game 6 of the second, going on to win 18 of the last 20 points of the set. Williams’ spirit, palpably boosted by the turnaround, began to dominate with her vaunted serve and became by far the more assertive player. In the last two sets, she won 28 of 32 first-serve points.
