Serena Williams Soars, Sets Up Match Versus Sister Venus; Murray Falls, Isner, Shapovalov Survive in Five

(August 29, 2018) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Get ready for Sister act part 30 as Serena Williams’ easy 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 101 Carina Witthoeft of Germany sets up a third round encounter against Venus Williams who beat Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5 during the day.

“I wouldn’t say it’s exciting. But it’s definitely going to be a really tough match for me. Once again, it’s early in the tournament. You know, it is what it is,“said Serena.

“Unfortunately and fortunately we have to play each other. We make each other better. We bring out the best when we play each other. It’s what we do, so…

“I think we’re used to it now.”

“The best part is we bring out the best in each other, “ the 23-time major winner added. I know when I play her, I have to play some of my best tennis. She does, too. It propels us to continue to play that for the tournament. It sets a tone for us.

“I feel like throughout our career, we have pushed each other to be the best that we can be, and be Venus and Serena Williams.”

Serena leads the head-to-head meetings 17-12.

American teenager Sofia Kenin has reached the third round of the US Open for the second straight year, upsetting No. 30 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Kenin also  beat Sakkari at Wimbledon.

No. 1 and defending champion Rafael Nadal made easy work of  Vasek Pospisil winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 during the evening session.

Andy Murray still on the comeback trail from hip surgery, lost to No. 31 seed Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. The Spaniard will face third-seeded Juan Martin del Potro in the third round.

Murray was upset about Verdasco allegedly talking to a coach during a heat break.

“I went for a shower,” said the 2012 champion. “He was having an ice bath. When I came out of the shower, his coach and his — I don’t know if he’s playing doubles with him, but one of the Spanish doubles players was in there chatting to him, and you’re not allowed to speak to your coach. I went and told the supervisor.

“I said, What are you guys doing? I mean, there’s clear rules here and you’re allowing this to take place. I don’t get it.

“Then he ran through, Oh, you’re not allowed to speak.

“I checked the rules beforehand, and I spoke to my team. We were clear you don’t speak to your coaches whatever. They obviously weren’t in there for long, but you got to do better than that. This is one of the biggest events in the world. If you have rules like that, you need to stick with them because one player getting to speak to the coach and the other not is not fair.”

Verdasco’s version: “I know the rule exactly. I know you can’t talk with your team or use the phone or use anything. Is like a break on the court, but just on the locker. I saw my coach in the locker room, but I didn’t even talk one word with him. I think he went to the toilet. I obviously cannot say, Don’t go to the toilet. But actually we didn’t even spoke one word.

I was in the ice bath with Baghdatis and his coach. The guy from the court with the time behind me just because I was asking him, Please tell me the time so I don’t get late. Andy didn’t take an ice bath, because I told Marcos — I was first. I didn’t even know Andy was coming. I told Marcos when I saw Andy, Maybe he’s coming. Andy said, No, I’m not taking ice bath. I said, Marcos, you can stay.

“I went in, I saw my coach, we didn’t talk one word. I just dress up quickly and went back to the court. Obviously if you say or Andy say that, I don’t want to say that he lie, but I didn’t talk one word with my coach or any one member of my team. I know exactly the rule and I don’t want to be the one breaking it.”

“The coach of Baghdatis speaks Spanish, but it was not my coach, like I said. I didn’t speak one word. Not even ‘hello’. That’s the truth. I don’t have to say it. Like I said, two guys from the tournament were there controlling. If I would do it, they would put me a warning or something. Obviously they didn’t do it because I didn’t talk with anybody. I was talking with Baghdatis and with his coach. That’s it.”

Murray though was happy with his play: “I think some of the tennis I played today was some of the best I’ve played since I had the surgery or since I came back. But there were also periods in the match, especially in the first set, where, you know, I really didn’t play particularly well. I hit a lot of mistakes when I was up in that set. I feel like I should have won the first set and didn’t.

“Then kind of at the end when back was against the wall, I came up with some good tennis to make it close and interesting at the end and almost got myself back into it. You know, there were too many ups and downs for my liking.”

John Isner survived a five-set test against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry. In a very Davis Cup -like atmosphere on Grandstand, Isner rallied for a 6-7 (7), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 win.

“It was a struggle,” said Isner. “Really from the get-go. I mean, he played well. He served well. I had chances. Five breakpoints at 3-All in the fifth. Disappointing not to break there. But I just kept plugging away.

“The fifth set was far and away the best I played the whole match. So that’s pretty encouraging, I think. It was a struggle at times, but I’m happy to get through.”

“It was a great match. It was long. A lot of momentum switches. It was pretty fun to be out there battling against him,” Canadian Denis Shapovalov said about his five-set win over Andreas Seppi. “He’s such a great player. I remember growing up watching him. Yeah, it was a great match to be a part of.”

The Canadian will play last year’s finalist Kevin Anderson.

“I’ve never played himm” said Shapovalov. “Obviously he’s an unbelievable player. He’s made multiple Grand Slam finals. He’s no walk in the park. He’s going to be a tough opponent, tough to get a rhythm with him. Obviously he’s serving unbelievably huge.

“I’ve had a little bit of experience playing guys like this. I’m ready. It’s going to be a lot of short points. I’m going to try to use the chances that I get. Obviously it’s going to be another battle. I’m ready for that.

“Yeah, I’m just going to go out there like I always do and just enjoy myself.”

Major upsets of the day on the women’s side came when No. 9 seed Juila Goerges and No. 12 seed Garbine Muguruza both lost.