Serena Williams Rallies Past Pera in Lexington Opener o Set Up Second Round Match Versus Sister Venus
(August 11, 2020) – World No. 9 Serena Williams returned to the court for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic put a hold on the tennis tournaments back in March. Off to a bit a of a slow start, the No. 1 seed at the inaugural Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky rallied past US countrywoman Bernarda Pera, world No. 60 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the second round on Tuesday.
Williams was five points away from losing the match down 4-6, 4-4, 0-40 before making her comeback. “I think I won today because I was calm for once in my career, and I think that was really helpful,” she said to media during her news conference. “I think I was really chill.”
“I wasn’t finding a rhythm, I’ve been practicing really well and I knew that I could play better I just hang in there,” Williams said just off-court after the match. “Serena, play like you’ve been practicing.'”
“I wasn’t finding a rhythm, I’ve been practicing well, so I just told myself, ‘Serena, play like you’ve been practicing.”
Serena Williams will face sister Venus Williams match next.
“I feel like I always play Venus in every single tournament, first or second round, so that’s annoying,” Williams said.
Venus Williams had a much easier time with her opponent, Victoria Azarenka. The 40-year-old Williams won 6-3, 6-2 for her first match win of the year.
The Williams sisters will face-off for the 31st time in their career. Serena leads the head-to-head record 18-12.
“Here we go again. Number 31.” ?@Venuseswilliams stunned in her opener at the #TSOpenLex, and gave us the best gift we could ask for: another matchup of tennis’ greatest sisters.? pic.twitter.com/I1vhWQzt5Q
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 11, 2020
Sixteen year-old Coco Gauff, advanced to the second round with a 7-5, 7-5 win over fellow American Caroline Dolehide.
“People can think what they want. I’m just out here having fun.” ?@CocoGauff is not letting the pressure get to her, no matter what people’s expectations are. Next stop: round 2!#TSOpenLex pic.twitter.com/1i6foo0ILJ
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 11, 2020
No. 7 seed and 2017 US Open Champion Sloane Stephens was ousted in the first round by young Canadian 17-year-old Leylah Fernandez, 6-3, 6-3.
Other winners on the day included Jill Teichmann, Shelby Rogers, Anna Blinkova, who advanced when Kristie Ahn retired from her match with a knee injury and Francesca di Lorenzo, who replaced Amanda Anisimova who withdrew with a shoulder injury.
RESULTS – AUGUST 11, 2020
Singles – First Round
[1] S. Williams (USA) d B. Pera (USA) 46 64 61
[5] Y. Putintseva (KAZ) d A. Tomljanovic (AUS) 60 64
[Q] L. Fernandez (CAN) d [7] S. Stephens (USA) 63 63
V. Williams (USA) d V. Azarenka (BLR) 63 62
[WC] S. Rogers (USA) d M. Doi (JPN) 64 46 62
C. Bellis (USA) d [LL] F. di Lorenzo (USA) 61 62
J. Teichmann (SUI) d [Q] A. Kalinskaya (RUS) 62 75
A. Blinkova (RUS) d [Q] K. Ahn (USA) 26 64 31 Retired
[Q] O. Govortsova (BLR) d [Q] B. Mattek-Sands (USA) 76(4) 61
C. Gauff (USA) d [Q] C. Dolehide (USA) 75 75
Doubles – First Round
M. Linette (POL) / J. Pegula (USA) d [2] J. Brady (USA) / A. Sabalenka (BLR) 64 46 10-8
M. Bouzkova (CZE) / J. Teichmann (SUI) d [3] C. Gauff (USA) / C. Mcnally (USA) 46 64 10-6
ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020
CENTER COURT start 11:00 am
[8] O. Jabeur (TUN) vs [Q] O. Govortsova (BLR)
A. Blinkova (RUS) vs M. Bouzkova (CZE)
C. Gauff (USA) vs [2] A. Sabalenka (BLR)
[6] M. Linette (POL) vs J. Brady (USA)
COURT 2 start 11:00 am
K. Christian (USA) / G. Olmos (MEX) vs R. Anderson (USA) / E. Routliffe (NZL)
[1] A. Guarachi (CHI) / D. Krawczyk (USA) vs O. Kalashnikova (GEO) / A. Kudryavtseva (RUS)
E. Bektas (USA) / T. Moore (GBR) vs [WC] B. Mattek-Sands (USA) / S. Stephens (USA)
After suitable rest – B. Pera (USA) / A. Rodionova (AUS) vs A. Blinkova (RUS) / V. Zvonareva (RUS)
[WC] G. Talaba (ROU) / C. Whoriskey (USA) vs J. Loeb (USA) / I. Neel (USA)
More to follow…
