Serena Williams advanced to the U.S. Open quarter-finals after a gritty, tension-soaked 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3 win over Greece’s Maria Sakkari on Monday.
The 23-times Grand Slam winner came up short in the second set tie-break, with her power serve abandoning her when she needed it most.
Sakkari carried the momentum into the third set as she started the decider with a break.
But the 38-year-old American once again showed the battling instincts that has made her one of the all-time greats.
She broke back to level for 2-2 as Sakkari’s forehand started to misfire.
The six-times Flushing Meadows champion marked her 100th win on Arthur Ashe Stadium with a roar that could be heard all around the grounds.
“I just kept fighting,” said Williams, who lost to Sakkari two weeks ago in the Western & Southern Open.
“She was doing so well she was being so aggressive.
“I knew I needed to do the same thing.”
Meanwhile, the French Open will allow a maximum of 11,500 spectators per day to adhere to strict health protocols and curb the spread of COVID-19 when the Grand Slam begins later this month.
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) disclosed this on Monday.
The French Open, traditionally held in May and June, was postponed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now be held at Roland Garros from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11.
France has recorded nearly 31,000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.
The FFT said a maximum of 5,000 spectators per day would be allowed to watch matches at both the Philippe-Chatrier and Suzanne-Lenglen showcourts.
It added that only 1,500 fans would be allowed at the smaller Simonne-Mathieu court.
Seating arrangements would have a gap of one seat on each row and no more than four people can sit side-by-side while wearing masks would be mandatory for anyone over the age of 11.
The qualifying rounds, which begin on September 21, will be held behind closed doors.
The FFT had said in July it planned to allow up to 60 percent of the usual number of fans.
A record 520,000 spectators attended last year’s event, according to organisers.
Rafa Nadal and Ash Barty, who both skipped the U.S. Open in New York due to COVID-19 concerns, are expected to defend their titles at Roland Garros.
Tournament officials said that all players must stay in one of two designated hotels “in order to respect the health and safety measures.”
Serena Williams has opted to stay in private housing as she hunts for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.
She said players should have the option to stay elsewhere if fans are attending matches.
“I’m super conservative because I do have some serious health issues.
“So, I try to stay away from public places, because I have been in a really bad position in the hospital a few times,” she told reporters at Flushing Meadows after reaching the quarter-finals.
Williams suffered blood clots and life-threatening pulmonary embolisms while giving birth to her daughter Olympia in 2017.
“So I don’t want to end up in that position again,” she added. “For me, I try to keep a 12-foot distance instead of six.”
