New York (AFP)
Serena Williams advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open on Wednesday by eliminating the returning Tsvetana Pironkova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and reached the last four at Flushing Meadows for the 13th time in her career.
The 8th player in the world, looking for a record 24th major title, will face Victoria Azarenka (27th) or Elise Mertens (18th) in the semi-finals on Thursday.
Williams has not lost before the semi at the US Open since 2007.
Wednesday, against the Bulgarian who returned to competition after 3 years of stoppage, Williams had a hard time starting her match.
"I was tired. I had heavy legs, I lacked energy," she admitted.
So much so that Pironkova, varying her strokes enormously and even rewarding her opponent with forehands caught, greatly hampered the American.
Completely liberated, uninhibited and without any apparent pressure, Pironkova won the first round and followed by a break from the start of the second set.
But Serena then became Serena again and she made Serena: the cries of rage became howls and she gradually came back into the game, breaking immediately.
"I continue to fight, I never give up and I move forward ..." she said with satisfaction.
And while Pironkova continued to go for it, Williams turned the game around.
Still, at almost 39 years old (she will celebrate them on September 26), Serena Williams has offered herself a new grueling standoff after having beaten with the same type of difficulties Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7 (6/8 ), 6-3 in the round of 16 and Sloane Stephens 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the third round.
But she will have to go to her semi-final on Thursday.
"Yes, the good news is that I am able to play a series of games again, but I will have to find a way to start my games better," she said.
© 2020 AFP