By Daily Sports on September 7, 2018

Serena Williams has another shot at winning her first Grand Slam title since giving birth after defeating Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova in 66 minutes in their US Open semi-final.

Williams, beaten by Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final in July, won 6-3 6-0 against 19th seed Sevastova.

The 36-year-old will play Japan's Naomi Osaka in Saturday's final after the 20th seed beat Madison Keys.

Victory will equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

"It is really incredible, a year ago I was literally fighting for my life at the hospital after having the baby," said Williams, who missed last year's US Open because of the birth of her child Olympia.

"Every day I step out on this court I am so grateful to have an opportunity to play this sport.

"So no matter what happens in any match, I already feel like I have already won."

Williams was out of the game for over a year after announcing her pregnancy in April 2017 and then giving birth last September.

Now, she is back playing at her home Grand Slam and looking close to her very best.

A dominant win over older sister Venus laid down a significant marker in the third round before a straight-set win over Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova in the quarter-finals showed she was able to compete with the world's best players once again.

That meant she came into the semi-final as the favourite against a player who had never before reached a Grand Slam semi-final.

But the ease with which she ran away with the match - winning 11 of the final 12 games and losing just 12 points in the second set - was startling.

"This is just the beginning. I'm only a few months in and really looking forward to the rest of the year and next year," Williams said.

Attacking Williams blunts Sevastova

Williams made a slow start in front of an expectant crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which had the roof closed because of rain and thunderstorms.

She lost her serve in the first game and trailed 2-0 before winning four in a row to take command.

Williams started to find her range and her power could not be contained by Sevastova.

More striking was the former world number one's willingness to come forward, approaching the net on 28 occasions and winning 24 of those points. (BBC)

•Photo shows Williams and Sevastova

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 7, 2018

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