ROLAND GARROS, FRANCE

[1] Serena Williams (USA) vs. [60] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)

Williams knew that she would have a battle on her hands; however, I don’t think she anticipated such a tough match.  Putintseva had pushed her before in their two previous encounters, forcing a tiebreak set in both first sets, but she had never taken a set.  Williams has the disadvantages of being older and not getting a day off in between as is customary in the Majors to rest and recover.  Putintseva had the advantages of being younger and probably able to warm up much faster.

This was as close as it could get without losing and we have all seen one too many of these escapes from Williams.  She just could not sustain a winning rhythm for the first set and most of the second.  How she was able to escape this hole once again is a testament of her will.  As she said in her post match interview….”I did not want to lose in straight sets”.  Thankfully she has been blessed with the amazing ability to mount such a comeback time and time again.  Today she withstood the brilliant attacking tennis of her opponent and elevated her game to secure the victory 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.

Unfortunately for Williams, her next match is tomorrow, the third match without a break and she is playing the in-form Kiki Bertens who has dispatched of several seeded players en route to her first Major semifinals.

OTHER SEEDED RESULTS

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated [7] Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-3, 7-5, 6-3

[58] Kiki Bertens (NED) defeated [8] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 7-5, 6-2

[13] Dominic Thiem (AUT) defeated [12] David Goffin (BEL) 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4. 6-1

[15] Lopez/Lopez (ESP) defeated Benneteau/Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 3-6. 6-4, 7-6(7)