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– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
NEW YORK – Will we have finally the greatest to ever do it on the tennis court tie a hallowed record? Or will we have our first teenaged women’s singles champion in 15 years? Either way, the US Open Women’s Singles Final will be something to behold.
Serena Williams, with 23 Grand Slam singles titles in tow, is one win away from joining Margaret Smith Court at the mountaintop with 24 triumphs on the biggest stage and she is coming into the final in rousing form, losing just five games combined in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Standing in Serena’s way is 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu, who has already served notice on the WTA Tour this year by winning titles at two premier events in 2019: Indian Wells and Toronto, the latter coming when Serena had to retire from the match due to back spasms. A win by Andreescu, who owns a 7-0 record against top-10 opponents this year, will make her the first teenager to win a Grand Slam singles title on the women’s side since Svetlana Kuznetsova won the 2004 US Open at 19.
Once again, stay tuned to all of our commentary and coverage of the US Open women’s final and keep hitting the refresh button for our updates from the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Like always, we absolutely encourage you to contact us on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram and let us know where on the grounds we should blog from. (However, we most likely will only blog from Ashe today.) We always love your feedback.
Let’s have some fun, shall we? Latest entries are at the top of the page.
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5:49 PM EDT: From 1-5 and down a match point, Serena has brought it back to 5-5! OH. EM. GEE!!!
5:47 PM EDT: It’s more than possible now!!! Serena holds, then breaks Andreescu at 15 and it’s 4-5 and back on serve! Is this comeback really going to happen?
5:38 PM EDT: Serena fights back like the champion she is! Saves a match point and eventually breaks! Still a mountain to climb for Serena, down a set and 2-5. Any chance we’ll see a comeback for the ages?!
5:33 PM EDT: Two points away from the championship for Bianca!! 30-15!
5:31 PM EDT: Bianca Andreescu is now serving for the US Open women’s singles championship! 6-3, 5-1!
5:31 PM EDT: Serena in big trouble now, facing double break point. And she’s broken at the second time of asking at 30-40 when a forehand from Williams goes long.
5:26 PM EDT: Odd moment now, as Bianca forced to hit a defensive lob that Serena absolutely gets her footwork wrong before hitting a tame backhand return that should have been a winner. Andreescu wins the point and the game, and it’s 4-1.
5:25 PM EDT: One of the few routine holds looks to be in the offing, as Andreescu up 40-0. Serena on the board with a forehand winner on a second serve. Still 40-15.
5:24 PM EDT: Three straight breaks!! Andreescu up 6-3, 3-1 now!
5:23 PM EDT: Welp! On game point, Serena serves a double. And now an unforced error from Williams gives Bianca a break point.
5:22 PM EDT: Williams, on her serve, smashes a 199-MPH ace down the middle and, immediately afterward, looks skyward with her arms out, as if to say, “Where has that serve been all day?!?!”
5:17 PM EDT: SERENA GETS THE BREAK IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE! On break point, a Serena forehand clips the net, pops high into the air and drops on Andreescu’s side, leaving Bianca a desperate and, eventually, fruitless chase after the short ball. Back on serve, and it’s 2-1 to Andreescu! This already competitive match is getting better!
5:16 PM EDT: Everyone in stadium thinks Serena has the break when a forehand looks to be long (but called good), but the challenge/review goes against Serena and was good. Deuce once again.
5:15 PM EDT: Serena yo-yos her opponent up and down the baseline before a forehand winner sets up another break point.
5:13 PM EDT: Andreescu once again saves a break point and, once again, it’s a backhand into the net from Serena that ends the point.
5:11 PM EDT: Bianca, on her service game, now throws in a double, and it’s at a terrible time (30-30). Break point for Serena, but she dumps a return on a second serve into the net and it’s deuce.
5:09 PM EDT: Speaking of trouble on the serve, Serena now facing triple break point!! And broken at a love on, guess what, a double fault. The match is firmly on Andreescu’s racquet now. Tension and angst fill the stadium as well as the pro-Serena crowd continues to grow more nervous.
5:07 PM EDT: Almost no service game has been easy for either player. However, Andreescu has yet to be broken, and she holds at 30 in the first game of the second set.
5:01 PM EDT: Serena ended her first service game of the set with a double fault…and now ends her final service game with a double! Set to Andreescu, 6-3!
5:00 PM EDT: Wonderful return from Bianca on a second serve sets up a backhand volley winner at the net, and it’s deuce.
4:58 PM EDT: Serena serving to stay in the set at 5-3, and, once again, she is not having an easy time of it holding. A backhand winner from Andreescu and it’s 30-30. Two points away from the set for the Canadian.
4:50 PM EDT: Joining the party a little late, so here’s what I missed telling you: Bianca broke Serena on the first service game, with a double fault from Williams ending the first game. Andreescu held for 2-0, then Williams started her next service game with an overhead smash right at Andreescu that seemingly woke her up from her doldrums to start the match! It’s been even ever since, but Andreescu up 5-3 in the set now.
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