NEW YORK — Neither her words nor her play indicated Serena Williams was distracted Thursday at the U.S. Open.
She would have been forgiven if they had, of course, given her older sister Venus withdrew from the tournament 24 hours earlier and revealed a recently diagnosed immune system disease.
Focused as ever, Serena absolutely overwhelmed Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands 6-0, 6-1 to reach the third round, showing precisely why many consider her the favorite to win a fourth championship at Flushing Meadows.
How was it to set aside Venus’ situation?
“It really wasn’t that difficult, to be honest. I mean, she wants me to do the best; she wouldn’t want me to suffer,” Serena said. “So now, if anything, it should motivate me more.”
If that’s so, look out. Against Krajicek, she hit 10 aces, erased the only break point she faced, compiled a 25-5 edge in winners and made only 10 unforced errors in a powerful display that lasted all of 49 minutes.
That was part of a pattern in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Day 4 of the year’s last Grand Slam tournament: Winners Serena, Novak Djokovic (two), Roger Federer (seven), Caroline Wozniacki (two), and Francesca Schiavone (two) combined to lose 14 games in five matches.
Tennis fans who wanted some drama needed to watch Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion and U.S. Open runner-up, outlast No. 7-seeded Gael Monfils 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 at a packed Louis Armstrong Stadium. At 4 hours, 48 minutes, it was the longest match of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Venus said on “Good Morning America” that she “absolutely” plans to return to tennis and is relieved, after years of misdiagnosis, to know exactly what’s been making her feel “debilitating” fatigue.
The Associated Press
