WTA US Open: Serena Williams downs Margarita Gasparyan to remain on title course

The 23-time Major champion Serena Williams is through to the third round of the US Open for the 20th time in as many New York trips. Serena took down Margarita Gasparyan 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 33 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium, notching the 103rd victory at the US Open and leaving Chris Evert on 101. Serena had 27 winners and 16 unforced errors, controlling the pace against the Russian and sealing the deal in straight sets to advance into the last 32. The American gave serve away three times, securing five on the other side to erase the deficit and remain in front almost all the time. Due to the rain, the players kicked off the action under the closed roof and Williams held at love in the first game with four booming serves. Feeling the pressure of the big opponent on the other side of the net, Margarita got broken in game two from 40-15 up when her forehand landed wide, sending Serena in front and finding herself 3-0 down following a perfect backhand down the line winner from the veteran in game three.

The Russian wrote her name on the scoreboard with a hold in game four, creating a break chance in the next that Serena saved with a forehand drive-volley winner, forcing an error from the rival to bring the game home and open a 4-1 gap. Felling the ball nicely, Williams secured another break with a smash winner in game six, serving for the set and giving it away at love to keep the rival in. That didn't last long, though, as Serena scored the third break to clinch the opener 6-2 in 35 minutes. The American landed an ace down the T line at the beginning of the second set for a hold at 15, with Gasparyan fending off a break chance for a hold in game two. Serving well, Williams landed a service winner for a 2-1 advantage, earning a break a few minutes later to open a 3-1 gap.

Serena Williams is through to the US Open third round for the 20th time. 

Margarita pulled the break back straight away when Serena landed a backhand long, falling 4-2 down when Williams converted the fifth break chance in game six to take a big step towards the finish line. Playing a loose service game, the six-time champion netted an easy forehand in game seven to suffer a break, keeping the rival in contention and having to start all over from 4-4. From 40-0 up in the ninth game, Serena had to dig deep to remain unbroken, saving a break point with an ace and holding after almost ten minutes for a 5-4. Returning in game ten, Williams broke Gasparyan at 15 to move over the top and stay on the seventh crown course in New York, losing in the final in the previous two years. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Z4Wgmg