The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd was fully on the side of Williams, which hasn't always been the case.
At one point in the first set, Williams mouthed to her box, "I can't play in this wind." due to the fact that swirling wind was a factor in the match and seemed to particularly bother Williams, who at times had to fight to keep her dress from flying up and her ball toss in line.
It was on Sunday, every winner she hit was greeted with loud applause while Azarenka heard only an occasional clap.
A Williams victory appeared inevitable when she charged to a 4-1, two-break lead in the second set. Williams needed only to hold serve twice and she would be champion. But that wasn't as easy as it appeared.
Azarenka broke back to 4-2 and held to 4-3. Williams, with the help of a 119-mph ace, held at love for 5-3 and Azarenka held for 5-4.
On her first chance to serve out the match, Williams quickly fell behind and faced two break points at 15-40. The first was saved by a Williams forehand winner, but Azarenka won it on the second when Williams hit a backhand long, and the set was tied, 5-5.
Azarenka gave the break back immediately with a backhand into the net, giving Williams another chance to serve for the championship. But Williams dumped a backhand into the net at 30-30 and double-faulted on break point, allowing Azarenka to break for 6-6 and forcing the tiebreaker.
Azarenka won the tiebreak on her third set point, when another Williams backhand found the net.
The two would play one final set for the championship.
Again Williams got the first break, in the fourth game, on an Azarenka double fault to give the American a 3-1 lead. And Williams again took a 4-1 lead, holding with back-to-back aces, the first clocked at 126 mph, the second on a second serve.
This time, instead of faltering in the sixth game, Williams broke again when Azarenka put a forehand into the net. Now up 5-1, Williams served for the match yet again. She held firm, and the championship was hers.
No comments:
Post a Comment