Serena survives Ivanovic scare to reach Cincinnati semis

Ivanovic gave Serena all she could handle on Friday. But once again, Williams was too strong for the WTA Rising Star to withstand, holding for 5-4. I will have my chance tomorrow but I expect a tough match. She’s the best player in the world, so I have nothing to lose.

“To be honest I’m happy just to still be in the tournament“.

The 21-time Grand Slam singles champion improved to 20-4 at Cincinnati, the last major event prior to the start of the year’s final Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.

Elsewhere, Jelena Jankovic punished eighth seed Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.

“I don t know how I turned the match around”, she said. This is her best showing in five times playing the W&S Open. “I played very aggressively”. My return was good.

Now with the first set under her belt, Williams looked to be in the ascendancy. Reaching number two doesn’t matter to me much. “I’m really sorry I had to retire”.

The world number one made quick work of Karin Knapp, 6-0 6-2, and took the first nine games in a row as she steamrolled her way through to the quarter-finals.

The 33-year-old Serena Williams claimed a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win to progress to the next round, the BBC reports. Fighting off four break points to hold for 4-all, Svitolina was holding her own.

There she will face Ana Ivanovic, who beat Sloane Stephens 2-6 6-4 6-1.

“I just want to win the match”. Svitolina got 58 percent of her first serves in play but won only 49 percent of those points. Could Svitolina use this minor blip in Williams’ serve to her advantage?

Williams was broken early in the opening set, but her opponent could not keep the momentum or capitalise on the American’s eight double-faults for the match. She said she’s been bothered by an elbow injury since the French Open and that’s cut down on the time she spends on her serve in practice.

Victoria Azarenka is just about the only player on tour who consistently challenges Serena Williams, though she collapses during the big moments, but she hasn’t been the ideal picture of health throughout her career.