[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ icon=”arrow-down” icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”15″ placement=”up”]
[8] Serena Williams -08- (USA) def [5] Elina Svitolina -05- (UKR)
Match recap from Arthur Ashe Stadium announcer Andy Taylor.
3-years-ago in Rio, Elina Svitolina stunned fans in Maria Bueno Stadium, upsetting World #1 Serena Williams to reach the Olympic Quarterfinals. It was an earth-shaking win – and the last time Serena and Elina faced each other…before tonight.
In 2019, Svitolina has become increasingly comfortable at the Majors. No doubt, her WTA Finals victory last November boosted her self-confidence in pressure-packed matches. At Wimbledon, she reached her first Grand Slam Semifinal, and backed it up with a run to the Final-4 here in New York.
But on Thursday night, Serena Williams was on. The 6-time US Open champ played exemplary defense in the opening set, saving 6 break points. Thanks to a hard-fought 6-deuce break in game-2, Serena won the opener on her own racquet; then served lights out in the second, denying Svitolina a single break opportunity.
On Saturday Night, Serena will contest the US Open Championship for a 10th time. Her 33rd career Grand Slam Singles Final.
NEXT: [15] Bianca Andreescu -15- (CAN) vs [8] Serena Williams -08- (USA)
[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ icon=”fas fa-microphone” icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”23″ placement=”up”]
Semifinal Biography | [8] Serena Williams -08- (USA)
At 37-years-old, she is arguably one of the greatest of all time. On Tuesday night, she earned her 100th career US Open match victory – and tonight, is competing in her 38th Major Semifinal. In 1999, at just 17-years-old, she captured her first Grand Slam Singles title right here in Arthur Ashe Stadium. 20-years-later, she owns the Career Grand Slam with 23 Grand Slam Singles titles in all – the most of any player in the Open Era. The sport’s top-ranked player for an astounding 319-weeks – she owns 72 WTA Singles titles, 4 Olympic Gold Medals, and is a Fed Cup Champion. From Palm Beach Gardens, Florida – Please welcome 6-time US Open Champion, Serena Williams.
▲ SF: def [5] Elina Svitolina -05- (UKR) 63 61
▲ QF: def [18] Qiang Wang -18- (CHN) 61 60
▲ R4: def [22] Petra Martic -22- (CRO) 63 64
▲ R3: def def Karolina Muchova -44- (CZE) 63 62
▲ R2: def [WC] Caty McNally -121- (USA) 57 63 61
▲ R1: def Maria Sharapova -87- (RUS) 61 61
Semifinal Biography | [5] Elina Svitolina -05- (UKR)
At 24-years-old, she is the reigning WTA Finals Champion – and has reached her 2nd consecutive Grand Slam Semifinal…without dropping a set. She reached her first Major Semifinal earlier this Summer at Wimbledon, has been ranked as high as World #3, owns 13 WTA Singles titles in 15 Finals appearances…and with her victory on Tuesday, became the first Ukrainian woman to reach the US Open Semifinals. From Ukraine, please welcome the #5 Player in the World Elina Svitolina.
▲ QF: def [16] Johanna Konta -16- (GBR) 64 64
▲ R4: def [10] Madison Keys -09- (USA) 75 64
▲ R3: def Dayana Yastremska -152- (UKR) 62 60
▲ R2: def Venus Williams -52- (USA) 64 64
▲ R1: def Whitney Osuigwe -109- (USA) 61 75 *17-year-old American
Head to Head
This was the 6th meeting between these two players – their third at a Grand Slam. Serena Williams has now won five of those pervious matches. Before tonight, Elina Svitolina won their most recent meeting at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
