Serena Williams Demolishes Maria Sharapova, Sister Venus Routs Zheng Saisai at US Open
(August 26, 2019) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – The Williams sisters destroyed their respective opponents on day one of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Monday.
Serena Williams has extended win streak against Maria Sharapova to 19 with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of the Russian in 59 minutes to begin the night session in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Williams said of playing Sharapova, “I just bring out some of my best tennis.”
“I think I was able to zone in, especially down breakpoints, not letting her in the match because she’s the kind of player that keeps going,” she said to media. “Even towards the end, she just wants to keep fighting. One point here or there, she could have won at least another game.
“I wanted to make sure I stayed focused.”
Asked about their rivalry, in which she leads 20-2, Serena said: “I don’t know what the meaning of ‘rivalry’ is. I feel everyone I play is a rival. Whether I’m 20-2 or 0-1, it’s always interesting matches.”
“I thought she served really well,” Sharapova said. “Found her spots really well. Didn’t feel like we got into too many long rallies. I think the 1-2 punch. She won a majority of those points. If I saw the percentage of that, I think that’s where she hurt me a lot.”
Serena, almost 38, last year’s US Open finalist, despite battling a few injuries this year, including back spasms which forced her to retire from the Rogers Cup final, said that she feels fit – “back feels good. I thought I could finagle and play in Cincy. Last-minute decision that I definitely couldn’t. I got some more training in.”
Serena will be facing off against 17-year-old countrywoman Caty McNally in the second round.
Earlier in the day sister Venus won 6-0, 6-1 in 66 minutes over Zheng Saisai in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“I was happy with today, so I’m not going to ask for more,” she said. “Whether the win is easy or whether it’s tough, a win is a win. Getting to the next round is about getting the win on your side and building yourself up during the tournament and patting yourself on the back for every good achievement.”
The 39-year-old Venus who won the US Open in 2000 and 2001 is playing in her 21st US Open.
“It’s a wonderful job, and it’s all-consuming,” Venus said of her tennis career. “So if you don’t love it, it’s really hard to do well at it. And the fact that I have done well has shown that I have loved it and will love it and I’ll always love it. Even when it’s all over I’ll still be a tennis player.”
Woemen’s results:
Singles – First Round
[1] A. Barty (AUS) d. Z. Diyas (KAZ) 16 63 62
[3] Ka. Pliskova (CZE) d. [Q] T. Martincova (CZE) 76(6) 76(3)
[5] E. Svitolina (UKR) d. [WC] W. Osuigwe (USA) 61 75
[8] S. Williams (USA) d. M. Sharapova (RUS) 61 61
[10] M. Keys (USA) d. M. Doi (JPN) 75 60
[12] A. Sevastova (LAT) d. E. Bouchard (CAN) 63 63
K. Mladenovic (FRA) d. [14] A. Kerber (GER) 75 06 64
[16] J. Konta (GBR) d. D. Kasatkina (RUS) 61 46 62
[18] Q. Wang (CHN) d. [Q] C. Dolehide (USA) 64 64
[20] S. Kenin (USA) d. C. Vandeweghe (USA) 76(4) 63
[22] P. Martic (CRO) d. T. Zidansek (SLO) 64 46 61
O. Jabeur (TUN) d. [27] C. Garcia (FRA) 76(8) 62
[29] S. Hsieh (TPE) d. [Q] J. Cepelova (SVK) 64 57 63
[30] M. Sakkari (GRE) d. C. Giorgi (ITA) 61 60
[32] D. Yastremska (UKR) d. M. Niculescu (ROU) 64 16 62
[33] S. Zhang (CHN) d. V. Golubic (SUI) 62 61
E. Alexandrova (RUS) d. [WC] S. Stosur (AUS) 61 63
K. Muchova (CZE) d. E. Rybakina (KAZ) 64 64
A. Sasnovich (BLR) d. J. Brady (USA) 61 46 60
I. Swiatek (POL) d. I. Jorovic (SRB) 60 61
V. Williams (USA) d. S. Zheng (CHN) 61 60
M. Gasparyan (RUS) d. [LL] P. Hon (AUS) 76(4) 64
A. Van Uytvanck (BEL) d. V. Kuzmova (SVK) 64 64
R. Peterson (SWE) d. M. Puig (PUR) 63 63
L. Davis (USA) d. [Q] J. Larsson (SWE) 75 62
F. Ferro (FRA) d. D. Gavrilova (AUS) 63 64
L. Siegemund (GER) d. [Q] M. Frech (POL) 57 63 64
L. Zhu (CHN) d. [Q] X. Wang (CHN) 63 64
[Q] A. Bogdan (ROU) d. [Q] H. Dart (GBR) 63 61
[Q] M. Bolkvadze (GEO) d. B. Pera (USA) 63 57 64
[Q] S. Peng (CHN) d. [LL] V. Lepchenko (USA) 62 76(5)
[WC] C. McNally (USA) d. T. Bacsinszky (SUI) 64 61
