Serena Williams moves ahead of Roger Federer on massive Major record

Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Chris Evert are the only players with 100 singles victories at a single Major in the Open era. Navratilova is the record holder with 120 triumphs at beloved Wimbledon, winning nine singles titles to dominate the world's most prestigious event. Roger Federer is the only player to hit the charts twice, achieving 101 wins at the All England Club and 102 at the Australian Open, sharing the second place with Serena Williams who stood on 102 US Open victories after her first-round success. On Thursday, the American moved in front of Roger, earning her 103rd victory in New York to leave the Swiss legend behind. Serena defeated Margarita Gasparyan 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 33 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium, notching the 103rd victory at the US Open. Serena hit 27 winners and 16 unforced errors, controlling the pace and sealing the deal in straight sets to reach the last 32.

The American suffered three times, securing five on the other side to remain in front and seal the deal without spending too much time on the court ahead of Sloane Stephens clash. Thanks to heavy rain, the match had to be played indoors, and Williams held at love in the first game with four booming serves to gain confidence. Margarita couldn't follow that path, getting broken in game two from 40-15 up when her forehand landed wide, sending Serena ahead and finding herself 3-0 down following the veteran's perfect backhand down the line winner in game three. The Russian wrote her name on the scoreboard with a hold in game four, building a break chance in the next that Serena saved with a forehand drive-volley winner, forcing an error from the opponent to bring the game home and forge a 4-1 lead. Williams secured another break with a smash winner in game six, serving for the set but giving it away at love to keep the rival in.

Serena Williams has won 103 singles matches at the US Open. 

That didn't last long, though, as Serena scored the third break to notch the opener 6-2 after 35 minutes. The American landed an ace down the T line at the beginning of the second set for a hold at 15, followed by Gasparyan who repelled a break chance in game two to remain in touch. Feeling secure behind the initial shot, Williams landed a service winner for a 2-1 advantage, earning a break a few minutes later to open a 3-1 gap. Margarita pulled the break back straight away when Serena landed a backhand long, having to start all over when Williams converted the fifth break chance in game six that pushed her 4-2 up. The six-time champion netted an easy forehand in game seven to suffer a break, keeping the Russian in contention at 4-4. From 40-0 up in the ninth game, Serena had to dig deep to stay on the positive side of the scoreboard, saving a break point with an ace and holding after almost ten minutes. Returning in game ten, Williams broke Gasparyan at 15 to move over the top and remain in contention for the seventh US Open title, securing a massive record in front of another tennis giant Roger Federer.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Z57NBQ