Serena Williams dominated Maria Sharapova, 6-1, 6-1, Monday evening at the US Open to post her most emphatic victory over the Russian since dropping just one game in their gold medal match at the 2012 London Olympics.
Speaking with Rennae Stubbs, Williams had this to say following her victory.
On learning about drawing Sharapova in her opening match:
“Obviously, I’m going against a player who’s won five Grand Slams. So that’s never easy. So every practice after that was super intense, super focused, because it’s an incredibly tough draw.”
On how she’s posted 19th consecutive wins over Sharapova:
“She’s such a good player. When you play her, you have to be super focused. Every time I come up against her, I bring out some of my best tennis.”
On her backhand winner serving at 2-1, 30-40, in the second set:
“That was definitely a big point for me. I was like, really excited that I hit that winner.”
Second set: Serena wins 6-1
After erasing three more break points to win the longest game of the match, Williams had no trouble closing out her 19th win in a row over Sharapova. The 32-year-old finished without winning a point on her second serve (0/10). Williams advances to face 17-year-old wild card Caty McNally.
Second set: Serena leads 4-1
Sharapova put the Williams serve in play and drew a couple of errors with confident hitting on the forehand wing to set up her first two break points of the match down 2-1. The 2006 US Open winner had a tremendous look at 30-40, coming in on a solid forehand, but Serena’s backhand reply was simply sublime, whizzing past the charging Sharapova. Williams subsequently deflated the Russian in the following game, overpowering Sharapova in a baseline exchange to open a double break advantage.
Second set: Serena leads 2-0
Williams is on a tear, winning 19 of 22 points. She breaks to start the second set with a massive forehand return winner that handcuffs Sharapova. A hold at 15 increases Serena’s streak to seven consecutive games (and 23 of 27 points). This match is all hers.
First set: Serena wins 6-1
After her emotional ending to the final on this court just under a year ago, Williams could not have asked for a better first set to her 2019 campaign.
-Nine winners to three unforced errors (including three aces)
-11/13 points won on first serve
-Two for two on her break point chances
-24 minutes of work
First set: Serena leads 4-1
Early on, this match has the intensity of a later-round clash. After being pushed to deuce in the third game when Sharapova ripped a cross-court backhand return winner, Williams upped her aggression—then continued bashing from the baseline to force errors off Sharapova’s racquet for the first break. Sharapova hasn’t donated any double faults in going for a higher-percentage play on serve, but a safe approach isn’t going to work against a champion she hasn’t defeated in nearly 15 years.
Serena Williams of the US returns the ball to Russia’s Maria Sharapova during their Round 1 Women’s Singles tennis match at the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on August 26, 2019. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo credit should read KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images) 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 26: Serena Williams of the United States celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia after their Women’s Singles first round match 1on day one of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Source: Tennis.com
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Photo credits: Kena Betancur / AFP) and Matthew Stockman New York
