'Serena whooped her': Super Williams destroys Bouchard
Serena Williams produced a masterclass against Eugenie Bouchard to maintain her imposing start to the Australian Open.
Williams, again pursuing a 24th grand slam singles title that would see her equal the record of Margaret Court, dropped just two games in her first-round win over Tatjana Maria.
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On Thursday night in Melbourne, she was similarly comfortable in her second outing of the tournament against Canada’s Bouchard.
An outclassed Bouchard failed to hold serve once in the opening set and only managed the feat twice at the start of the second as Williams endured a brief dip in form that saw her make a string of unforced errors.
The seven-time Australian Open champion, who has made the final in each of her last three visits to Melbourne Park, soon overcame that wobble and cantered to a 6-2 6-2 victory.
Two double faults from Bouchard in the opening game set the tone for a contest dominated by Williams.
Although the American was twice broken herself after cruising into a 3-0 lead, she retained control of the first set by repeatedly attacking the Bouchard serve to great effect.
Such a sweet story…
Venus wanted Serena to win. Win she did. ❤️️
WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/9yBwzk2qyQ
FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/d5QpFbIguD #9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/twTfqQvufb— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 17, 2019
There was a glimmer of hope for the underdog when Williams’ error count suddenly rose early in set two, the 16th seed spurning three break points and then finding herself in trouble at 0-30 in game four.
However, a succession of huge serves got Serena out of the trouble and she promptly reeled off the next four games to complete another hugely convincing win.
Williams faces a third round clash against Dayana Yastremska – the 20-year-old Ukrainian born just a year after the American won the first of her 23 grand slams.
Viewers were once again left in awe at how easy the American champion made the win look and the supreme form she seems to be in.
Serena whooped her
— Eric Apple (@eric_apple1) January 17, 2019
What a performance by Serena , just grt. Surely on the way to record breaking title … 🏆✌️
— Sujay Ranade (@SujayRanade1) January 17, 2019
That’s not fair. Serena’s power was just too much
— Luke Easton (@3ku1) January 17, 2019
Watching @serenawilliams play is always a pleasure #AusOpen
— Marianne Boutros (@mariannebou1) January 17, 2019
Serena Williams advances in straight sets against Genie Bouchard and faces Dayana Yastremska who was born in 2000, a year after the American won her first GS title. Amazing. #AusOpen
— Purview (@abdul_semi) January 17, 2019
In a ruthless showing, Williams broke serve six times and cracked 20 winners – double that of Bouchard – but said it wasn’t as easy as the score suggested.
“Genie has been to the finals of Wimbledon. She has been to the semi-finals of other grand slams so I said ‘alright Serena, you have to come out hot and firing’,” Williams said.
Seeded 16 at this year’s Open, the American superstar missed the chance to defend her 2017 title after the birth of her daughter Olympia but seems determined to make amends having dropped just six games in her opening two matches.
A @serenawilliams victory dance 💃✌️#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ndrEIv1Omp
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2019
“I haven’t had many matches since last year but it’s okay. I got time to spend with my daughter so that mattered the most to me,” she said.
“I have always been told that they grow up so fast. I want to be able to take that time and say I was able to spend it with her.”
Williams can draw level with Australia’s Margaret Court for the most grand slam titles if she wins a seventh Australian Open.
With agencies
