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US Open 2014: Serena Williams beats Ekaterina Makarova – as it happened
- Williams wins 6-1, 6-3
- Shuai Peng retires in first semi-final against Wozniacki
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Introduction
Good afternoon from New York, where it is hot, close and uncomfortable – though perhaps not so hot, close and uncomfortable as things are likely about to be for Ekaterina Makarova, the surprise semi-finalist in the 2014 US Open women’s singles.
The Russian got here by beating a slightly injury-hampered Belarusian, Victoria Azarenka, 6-4, 6-2 in just under an hour and a half. After that match, she summed up her inexperience at this rarefied level thus:
It’s amazing. Finally I’m in a semi-final after five chances before. Today it was a different feeling. I really wanted to move forward.
And move forward she has … potentially straight into a very elegant, entirely awesome brick wall. That said, she did beat Williams at the Australian Open in 2012 and Guardian tennis correspondent Kevin Mitchell had this to say after Makarova’s quarter-final here in New York:
Makarova is resolute, one of the Tour’s hardest off-court workers … [her] lefty serve up there with Petra Kvitova’s when grooved.
So – and she’s also beaten Eugenie Bouchard here – it’s not as if she doesn’t know what she’s doing. It’s more debatable whether I do in the current circs, so here’s some stats culled from Makarova’s official tour biography:
Age: 26
Place of birth: Moscow
World ranking: 18
US Open seeding: 17
And two statistical, fact-infused and palate-cleansing complimentary pre-moistened towelettes or wipes, as extracted from the same source:
Makarova is 0-2 in her career against reigning World No1s, falling to [Justine] Henin in the third round of the 2007 US Open 6-0, 6-2, and to Williams in the second round in Dubai this year, 7-6, 6-0.Serena leads Makarova head-to-head, 3-1. Since losing to Makarova at the Aussie Open, Williams has beaten her in both of their meetings in straight sets, one of which was at the 2012 US Open. Have a look at the pair’s full head-to-head details right here.
I suggest you do so while I have a few thoughts about Serena, and a few less about ripping off Stephen Fry.
Shuai Peng has just been forced to retire, through injury – sending Caroline Wozniacki into her second US Open final.
My colleague Tim Hill is covering that game, now story, here.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams…
She’s attempting to win her 18th grand slam singles title, which would put her alongside Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and four behind Steffi Graf on the all-time list. And on the road to that 18th title, she hasn’t been troubled too much – Flavia Pennetta went 3-0 up in the first set of their quarter-final, which didn’t come to anything for the Italian. After that, Williams said:
I felt she was playing really well, I don’t feel I was doing too much wrong. I just said to myself that if she keeps it up then she absolutely deserves the win and I just tried to do a little better. I had a lot of fun today, I really enjoyed it and I’m so happy to have won.
So much for drama.
Here’s another stat-slash-fact from the WTA:
Makarova has one win over Williams at a grand slam, in the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2012, but only four players have ever scored more than one win over the WTA legend at a grand slam tournament (namely Venus Williams,Jennifer Capriati, Justine Henin and Samantha Stosur).
I’m going to hunt down our report of that Australian Open game. Maybe some video too.
While I do, and appropriately apropos of nothing, you can read this obituary of Andrew McLagen, the storied director of westerns and war movies featuring John Wayne, James Stewart and the like who died on 30 August, which is since I last blogged the tennis, at the age of 94. Because this:
The Sea Wolves (1980), another second world war action picture, was somewhat reminiscent of The Guns of Navarone (1961), the similarity emphasised by using the same leads, Gregory Peck (attempting a British accent) and David Niven.Also cast was Roger Moore, who had appeared, with Richard Burton and Richard Harris, in McLaglen’s The Wild Geese (1978), about mercenaries in Africa. Ostensibly promoting racial understanding, the film was shot in South Africa at the height of apartheid.All of these rollicking adventures proved that, at the box office at least, familiarity breeds content.
This has little to do with tennis, of course, and a lot to do with things I regularly put in tennis blogs because I can … unless I’m trying to make a point about familiarity with Serena Williams breeding content.
It is entirely possible that I might be trying to do this, as Williams is, at her best, as exhilarating to watch as Roger Moore orchestrating a bunch of oldies while they destroy a ship from which Nazis have been doing dastardly things out of a neutral port, the rotters. QED.
That’s better. Or worse, for Serena.
So there you are. Players on their way out shortly for what might not, after all, be quite such a foregone conclusion…
Here’s what Kevin had to say about that 2012 Australian Open game between these two, which Makarova won 6-2, 6-3. Within lies what Serena, then in something of a slump, had to say about it:
She went for broke on a lot of her shots. I made 37 errors. That kind of tells the story of the match.“It was just disastrous. I served horrendous; that was one of the 50 things [that went wrong]. Every ball that came, I just hit it as far out as I could. But I feel like I definitely can play so much better. And that’s good. Like, if I felt like I couldn’t play better, then that would be a problem.
It was hot that day in Melbourne, too.
Updated
Utterly benign pre-game quotes time
Makarova, who has of course also reached the doubles final here:
I’m really enjoying to show my best tennis and I’m excited about this match and enjoying this court. I need to play my best game.
Serena:
It means a lot to be here in New York.
On Makarova:
She’s good, she does nothing bad, she moves well, she hits well, she serves well.
So there you have it.
As the knock-up continues, a thought: is “Ekaterina Makarova” the new name to be said in Brendan Foster’s voice?
This joke brought to American readers regardless of relative utility, utter unsuitability or complete impenetrability.
Spot of housekeeping…
You can tweet or email me, remember… @MartinPengelly or martin.pengelly@theguardian.com
Umpire is Carlos Ramos, of Portugal.
When American commentators should say “beating”, as in “in beating Bouchard, Makarova made us take notice”, they say “taking out”. “When taking out Bouchard, Makarova made us reach for vaguely inappropriate militaristic language that at the very least seems more apt to apply to someone like Marshawn Lynch running at some Green Bay Packers.”
That kind of thing.
Williams* 1-0 Makarova
First point to second serve but a short rally is ended with a very stern forehand indeed from Williams. Ominous. But then the next rally is settled by an equally forthright backhand from Makarova. Huh.
At 30-15 Serena dominates a point – big serve, to the net, dismissive forehand winner. The serve, indeed, is rumbling into gear quickly. Makarova misses a winner on the next point and we’re done.
Williams 1-1 Makarova*
First service game for Makarova, with her Kevin Mitchell-endorsed lefty serve. Some cheers for her from the stands. Goes to 0-15 on a so-so rally and Makarova goes long, wide on a forehand; Serena finds the net from the baseline for 15-all; again for 30-15. Makarova is moving and hitting crisply here, and she goes to 40-15 after clipping the net. And then it’s 40-30 with a mighty forehand service return winner from Serena.
But then a bad mis-hit for Makarova’s hold.
Williams* 2-1 Makarova
Williams finds the net, perhaps surprised her 117mph first service came back. Then it’s 15-all when a similar wallop in answer to a similar wallop flies wide; then 15-30 as Williams goes needlessly long. Easy point next for 30-all, then a massive ace, 116mph, and shortly after the game.
Williams 3-1 Makarova*
That is a very, very soft second serve from Makarova – almost Murray-esque, he typed, sort of satirically. It is, we are told, a little gusty out on Arthur Ashe – it is/was/will be ever thus. Then 0-30 and maybe this is a Makarova wobble. Well, not yet, that was a Williams one, trying to run around a bigger serve – 15-30.
Long rally then won by a ripped, dipped forehand crosscourt winner from Williams. Two break points.
Second serve, which can’t be good for Makarova – no points yet won on it. Serena challenges the serve having gone long and it was barely good. So.
Makarova long – break.
Williams* 4-1 Makarova
Rather a cruel first point, Makarova sprinting and returning well but Serena coming forward, confidently, and commanding the court. Next point she duffs a drop shot from the baseline – could’ve told her that might happen. Honest I could. To 30-15 as Makarova finds the net.
Big serve down the T, a ball person protecting his/her ball area from the marginal fault, and then a rally around the baselines and Serena hits long for 30-all. Makarova then gets a big serve back, with a kind of broadsword fend, but Serena has too much power in the rally. A second serve ace… it’s challenged, though, and successfully. So there you go – deuce.
To advantage with a rally in which Makarova is doing all the running, trying to move the ball about but, in the end, failing. Foot fault called there, I think… doesn’t matter – astonishing forehand dipping winner down the right-hand tramlines.
You mean Makarova is going to have to put in some hard Graf, John?
You can have that one. For a headline, children’s parties, your tax return. *Whatevs*
Williams 5-1 Makarova*
Big forehand winner from Serena from a weak-willed second serve opens the game, then tries it again but misses wide and that’s about the best Makarova is going to get at the moment. She then misses a backhand wide, perhaps surprised to have the chance to hit it. And wide again after managing to get a Serena rocket back and working back into the rally. Double break point.
Second serve it is… and a good point one by Makarova, though she had to scramble and at one point simply spooned one back and hoped for the best.
Long next – 5-1. Serena to serve for the first set.
Williams wins first set, 6-1
Williams* 6-1 Makarova
It’s 0-15 as Williams mis-hits one, then 15-all as Makarova can’t return anywhere other than the left net-post. Makarova goes wide on a potentially suspect call, but doesn’t challenge it. Then a second foot fault against Serena. Unusual. Crushing backhand sets up two set points, anyway.
Makarova misses badly: set. Challenges the call anyway. Nope.
That last Graf/graft pun, I meant “graft” in the British/Yorkshire sense, being “hard work, grit, determination”, not the American sense, being “criminal, fraudulent, not nice”. Just so we know. I may live in New Yorkshire, but I’m from old. Which is nice for me.
Williams 6-1, 1-0 Makarova*
A rally, Makarova getting Serena moving, which is what she wants to do, but then the Russian finds the net; on the next point more of the same but then Makarova hits long. It’s not like Serena actively needs the help. And she misses wide going ambitious again, and we have three break points. Already.
Ace. Fair enough.
To second serve on second break point – a baseline rally and Makarova finds the net.
Williams* 6-1, 2-0 Makarova
Williams has actually made more unforced errors coming into this game – in which 30-0 happens very quickly – but she has also played many, many more winners.
Massive ace. In college slang, we’d have called that “mahoosive’, which is bigger than massive. Massiver.
Another one. Game.
Williams 6-1, 3-0 Makarova*
This is the Hobbesian match I expected from Murray when he played Haase on the first day: nasty, brutish and short. To recap, Hobbes the philosopher played tennis and then had vigorous rubdowns, in the belief it would help him live longer. Advice for Makarova? Possibly not.
The Russian serves gamely enough to start and survives to 15-all, then keeps a rally going long enough to be able to hit one long when stretched to breaking point. And now at breaking point, Makarova long from the baseline under, relatively, little pressure.
Dismissed.
I’m not looking for any more Moore. This is not an occasion that invites levity, what with a respectable tennis pro being crushed before our eyes. It’s 16-3 on winners to Serena.
Williams* 6-1, 4-0 Makarova
The first point, dismissively played, brings a squeak of disbelief from Makarova; the second point is an ace. Lovely rally next, unusually, but Serena wins it at the net on the volley and it’s 40-0.
Easy.
Williams 6-1, 4-1 Makarova*
Unforced error from Makarova, and another – although that may have been a bit forced, as Serena forced her wide – and to second serve to avoid three break points… and she does with a beautifully played point and a joyously dispatched winner at the net, or coming to it.
Second serve again, though, which is when the Jaws music starts playing… and the forehand return is just too strong. Double set point to set up the endgame. Makarova saves the first, with Williams unbalanced through the whole point. And the second – return of serve into the net. Deuce.
And to game point for Makarova with a serve good enough that Williams cannot control the return. Game Makarova… Williams goes long.
Williams* 6-1, 5-1 Makarova
Some aggression from Williams off the first serve, coming to the net though it isn’t necessary, but then she goes long for 15-all. She sometimes wobbles, does Serena, in situations and positions like this. She puts the next one away, though, and shouts: “Come on!”
She’s not… dissatisfied, is she? How? Why?
Delayed call of out on a Makarova winner – them’s the breaks, obviously, in matches like this. Vast ace. Va-hast. Vaster than vast.
Williams 6-1, 5-2 Makarova*
Makarova serves to stay in the match, then, and gets to 15-0 on a Williams error of which, as we’ve seen, there have been a few. And to 30-0 on another, another one long on the forehand. Williams gets her range back next, though, Makarova’s legs practically buckling as she forces shots back from the baseline and eventually finds the net. Then she tries a drop shot from deep – nah. Serena tried that earlier, remember?
Williams finds the net on a two-handed backhand, though, and it’s 40-30… and the game as a return hits the net. Serena serves for the match next.
Makarova was told “no coaches, please” during the changeover. What could any coach possibly say in such a situation as this?
Williams* 6-1, 5-3 Makarova
Out to 15-0 with a serve that pushes Makarova too wide for a return.
A missed toss in the wind.
A short rally won with a dipping forehand right to left and just in: 30-0.
Serena misses long, for 30-15, rather ruining my aim for a short, sharp way of describing a short, sharp, likely final game, dammit. To second serve next, Makarova returns it and in surprise Williams finds the net for 30-all.
Another missed toss.
And Williams misses long after a good return and it is break point: and Makarova returns and Williams finds the net.
Swipe me.
Game, set and match Williams, 6-1, 6-3
Williams 6-1, 6-3 Makarova*
It’s 0-15 on a Makarova error, then it’s second serve and a point well won by Makarova for 15-all. Second serve again, and a rally ends with a dipping shot from Serena that Makarova cannot return coming to the net, because why not?
Great winner, Serena stretched… it’s 30-all. Makarova is fighting as hard as she can. But then she goes long, again, unforced and we have match point.
Serena scrambles, makes a couple of tough returns and Makarova misses wide – that’s your lot, in one hour exactly.
Makarova is straight off court, raising a forlorn hand as she disappears into the changing rooms.
Meanwhile, a question:
How did Lee do it at Appomattox? With as much dignity as possible.
Serena Williams as Ulysses S Grant. Can I do that? Grant’s nicknamewas “Unconditional Surrender”, so maybe I can.
Serena is speaking, anyway:
It feels so good… I am so happy you have no idea. I don’t know what to say. I knew she’s such an aggressive player so I was really focused and tried to win.
On Wozniacki, who she will play in the final:
She wants to win and I want to win and regardless I’m going to be happy with the outcome.
Ho-hum. I wasn’t expecting a disquisition on Kant, or indeed Hobbes, or even a discussion on all three volumes of Shelby Foote’s Narrative History of the Civil War. But, y’know. That’s not even soundbites. Ho-hum.
As Serena hits small balls into the crowd, presumably prior to signing some of those big ones they hand out, wrap-up in a mo.
Wrap-up
Serena wrapped it up in an hour. What more is there to say? Makarova is evidently no mug, and fought back well to avoid complete humiliation in the second set, but we didn’t learn anything we didn’t know, or the very least suspect with a sense of gathering dread, before the start of the match. Serena Williams is in good nick, and when she is in good nick there’s not much many in the women’s game can do to nick a game from her, let alone a match or a grand slam semi-final.
Serena will thus go for her 18th grand slam singles title on Sunday, against Caroline Wozniacki, a former world No1 who will nonetheless be going for her first after Shuai Peng retired in their semi-final today. And the two of them are good friends.
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