US Open Day 3 sets up Venus vs. Serena, Stephens vs. Azarenka blockbusters

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Wilson Blade 9

Serena and Venus Williams won their US Open second-round matches on Wednesday to set up a 30th career meeting, while reigning champion Sloane Stephens also advanced to the third round and will next face two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka, who was a runner-up in New York in 2012 and 2013.

Six-time champion Serena, who gave birth to daughter Olympia during last year’s tournament, unleashed 30 winners and 13 aces to beat German world No.101 Carina Witthoeft 6-2 6-2 in 67 minutes, while Venus, two-time US Open champion, battled for one hour and 51 minutes to defeat Italian Camila Giorgi 6-4 7-5.

The last time the sisters met at a Grand Slam was in the 2017 Australian Open final, which Serena won when eight weeks pregnant! Commenting on their upcoming encounter, Venus joked:

The last time we played the Australian, it was two-against-one. So at least this time it will be fair.

Meanwhile, Stephens managed to get across the finish line against world No.134 Anhelina Kalinina, who was playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time. Battling the heat, Stephens was down a set, then allowed her opponent to level from 1-4 and 3-5 to 5-5, before eventually taking the second set and cruising through the third, 4-6 7-5 6-2. She’ll next face Victoria Azarenka, as the Belarusian enjoyed a routine 6-1 6-2 victory over Daria Gavrilova, who held serve only once in the match that lasted one hour and 22 minutes.

The upset of the day was Garbine Muguruza’s 3-6 6-4 6-4 second-round loss to Czech qualifier Karolina Muchova, a player ranked outside the Top 200!

1 COMMENT

  1. All hail the Queen, the GOAT, Super Woman, Super Mom, Living Legend Serena Williams! The queen was on fire tonight against living legend, Venus Williams. These two amazing sisters have made so much history in the tennis world and continue to do so. They are seemingly ageless and such a joy to watch. Serena was on her A++ game tonight. When she’s on it like she was tonight, it’s lights out for the rest of the ladies. What rolled ankle???? Go, Queen! Keep your eyes on the prize. #24&MORE; #UNSTOPPABLE; #THEGOAT; #STRONGCOMEBACKQUEENOFTENNIS; #AGELESSBEAUTY; #MAKINGMOREHISTORY; #LIVINGLEGEND

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