- Mladenovic fumes at ‘abominable’ treatment under Covid protocols
- Johanna Konta out of US Open after defeat by Sorana Cirstea
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Second set: Gasparyan 2-6, 4-6 Williams
Gut check time for Gasparyan as she quickly goes down love-30, putting Williams two points from the finish line. Williams misfires a forehand but Gasparyan responds with an unforced error of her own for match point. Gasparyan then sends a forehand wide and long and it’s over! Williams is through to a third-round showdown with Sloane Stephens after one hour and 33 minutes!
Win #103@serenawilliams keeps rolling at the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Wme5wKKFyD
Second set: *Gasparyan 2-6, 4-5 Williams (*denotes next server)
Williams races out to 40-love on her serve. “Come on, Serena! Come on!” she exhorts between point. But Gasparyan, who’s hanging in the rallies bettter than before and playing with more confidence, is hanging in there. She pushes it back to deuce, aided by a gorgeous drop-shot winner and Serena’s fourth double fault. Suddenly we’re in another marathon. Williams saves a break point with a 107mph ace down the pipe, then finally escapes with the hold when Gasparyan sends a forehand sailing. The Russian will serve to stay in the tournament after the changeover.