Cincinnati Open 2020: Serena Williams wins marathon match against Arantxa Rus

Cincinnati Open 2020: Serena Williams wins marathon match against Arantxa Rus

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The Cincinnati Open Round 2 clash between Serena Williams and Arantxa Rus will begin at 22:30hr IST. Follow Firstsportz for live coverage of the match.

MATCH SUMMARY

An epic battle that went on for three hours culminated with Serena Williams getting better off Arantxa Rus 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6(0). While the first set was typical with both players holding their serve, the next two sets were very unpredictable.

Rus was broken and went on to break Serena to win the set. In the final set, Serena was serving for the match and got brokn, gaining momentum Rus was dominating. Rus was broken while serving for the set and the set went into a tie break. The final set tie- break was devastating for Rus as she went down love.

FS Video

Serena moves on to round 3, at Cincinnati Open.

LIVE UPDATES |

01:33 IST: A one-sided battle at the seven-point tie-break. Serena reaches 5-0 with an ace. Serena leads 6 love with 6 match points in hand!! GAME SET MATCH SERENA WILLIAMS 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6(0)

01:30 IST: No words for the set just played between Serena and Arantxa. As Rus serves for the match, Serena is not ready to give up! She leads with a breakpoint and BREAK. 6-6 We have another tie-break awaiting us in the final set!

01:22 IST : Serena successfully wins consecutive points as the score board is 30-40 inclined towards Rus and BREAK!! 6-5 RUS LEADS

01:20 IST : What a turn in events! Serena was serving for the match and now she serves to trail 0-40 to Rus. What a phenomenal round 2 clash.

01:15 IST A crucial point as the score is 30-30 as Rus serves. With another point, now Rus makes the score in her favour 40-30. And, DEUCE as Rus’s second service does not help her win a point. An advantage to the Dutch, GAME 5-5

01:12 IST: What a change in the events, Rus is back in the game leading 40-0 on Serena’s serve. Will she make use of the three breakpoints and BREAK!!! Unbelievable 5-4 as Rus will serve.

01:11 IST: Game for Rus. 5-3. This means Serena Williams will serve for the match. Serena Williams will be trying to seal the match.

01:05 IST : Rus begins with an ACE! But Serena takes the next point. What a treat for the eyes , such intense battle amongst the women. 15-15

01:03 IST: HOLD for Serena Williams who is just another game away from victory. As players change sides, Rus will serve to stay in the match. 5-2

01:00 IST: Arantxa is a tough opponent who is making Serena earn every point. Here is Serena with awaiting a HOLD as Rus keeps on fighting and taking the lead way from Serena. DEUCE.

00:57 IST: Serena wastes a breakpoint and after DEUCE Rus holds an advantage. Rus was game point down and now won the game. HOLD 2-4

00:55 IST : As Arantxa serves, Serena is giving her a tough fight. She just wont allow Rus to make an easy hold. BOOOM ACE 30-30

00:51 IST: Serena Williams cruises with a 40-15 lead. Rus saves a game point. But Serena makes a commanding lead with 4-1.

00: 47 IST : But Rus is not going to give up . She fights back to hold her serve and makes it 1-3. Yet she will have to break a determined Serena who is not giving up any free points.

00:41 IST: Serena seems to have got back the determination to win the match. She has broken the Dutch and now leads 2-0 . Is the American cruising to victory?

00:34 IST: Break point to Rus. Serena and Rus in a tough fight for the opening game of the final set. The American prevails to HOLD 1-0

00:31 IST: Williams starts the third set with her serve. She has to step up now. Nope! Rus will not let her win even a point. Rus leads 0-40 but fails to convert the first breakpoint. Serena wins two consecutive points and BOOOOOM! ACE The 23-time grand slam champion makes it DEUCE

00:16 IST: Rus is serving for the set she leads 40-30 and has a set point. SET for Rus as she breaks Serena Williams in this set to push the match to a third setter. SET 6-3

00:15 IST: A comfortable hold for Serena Williams as she makes the score 3-5. Serena will have to break Rus to get back in the set while Rus will hold to seal the set.

00:14 IST: Rus cruising to another hold and the set score is 5-2. Despite her efforts, Serena’s efforts still fall short until she can break Rus.

00:04 IST: Serena is wanting to come back to the set to seal a victory, Rus is causing obstacles. Yet Williams finds a chance to hold her serve. Closing in the gap. 4-2

00: 02 IST: Serena trails 1-3 as Rus serves. Serena Williams is going down against the Dutch. With only one point she got in the game, Rus has an easy coomanding lead. 4-1 as Rus has an easy hold!

23: 56 IST: Serena Williams serves. Point for Rus. But Serena fights to make it 15-15. BOOOM ACE! Serena 30-15 up. Rus is not backing down. She is hunting for a break. Now she leads 40-30 after winning two consecutive points. The breakpoint for Rus and here it is. BREAK RUS LEADS 3-1

23:54 IST: Rus will look to hold. Yet Serena will try to break her again. Rus has given Serena a freebie as the game score is 40-30, and HOLD. Rus was a breakdown and now leads 2-1

23: 49 IST: And Serena trying to fight it, 15-30. Rus getting back to win another point 15-40 with double breakpoints. Good point from Serena 30-40 but another break point with Rus. BREAK! 1-1

23:47 IST: Serena serves and starts off with a fault. Another second serve that benefits Rus. 0-15. And the champion has given the freebie to Rus, double fault. 0-30.

23:45 IST: Another point for Williams but Rus comes chasing to make it 30-30. Serena wins a breakpoint. 40-30. Can she break Rus in the opening game of the second set? YES! BREAK. 1-0 Serena Williams gets to break after an hour.

23: 44 IST: Rus begins to serve 15-0. And here comes the first double fault of the set, 15-15.

FIRST SET TO SERENA WILLIAMS 7-6(6)

23: 37 IST: The 23-time grand slam champion saves the first set point 6-6. She needs a second serve to start the point and point for Serena. 7-6 now she has the set point. And Serena serves to seal the time break. 8-6

23: 36 : IST Serena wins a point 5-5. Rus serves and wins the point 6-5. Rus has a set point in her hand.

23:34 IST : First serve fault for Serena and point for Rus as an ineffective second serve helps Rus to buy a lead. 5-4

23:32 IST: What a shame. Here comes another double fault from Rus. Third in this set. 4-3 as Serena enjoys a free point. Serena wins another point on her serve makes the scores level 4-4

23: 31 IST : Again the Dutch gets two points in a row alike Williams. 4-2 . Change of side and a lead for Rus.

23:31 IST: Serena wins another point on the serve of the Dutch. 2-2

23:30 IST: Serena serves and Rus wins the point. She leads 1-0. Another point for Rus on her serve 2-0. Serena Williams trailing in the tie break. Finally, she wins the first point 2-1 Rus leads.

23:26 IST: Starts with a point, Serena trying to find that break she has been waiting for. NO! Rus cruises to seal the game. HOLD. 6-6 Time for a tiebreaker to decide who shall win the first set.

23:25 IST: Rus at serve. She will serve to stay in the set.

23:23 IST: Rus manages to win a point. But Serena is cruising away to hold her service yet again. She leads 40–15 on her serve and GAME. HOLD SERENA 6-5

23:22 IST: BOOOOOM ACE!! Serena’s frustration of giving away another chance to break Rus is visible. 15-0. BOOOOOM! Two ACE in a row. 30-0. Serena Williams on fire.

23:20 IST: Rus has the advantage and a game point. She has fought back after two double faults in the same game. HOLD. Rus is determined to fight to the end. Level Again: 5-5

23:14 IST: Rus begins to serve and a double fault. Free point for Serena Williams. 15-0. Rus makes it even 15-15. Another double fault. Succumbing to the pressure to hold. But Rus gets back to take the lead from Serena at 40-30. Serena back at it makes it DEUCE.

23:12IST: Serena again aiming to hold. A simple mistake could cost her the set, she makes certain that she leads each service game by a margin. Leading 40-15 Serena serves but Rus saves a game point. 30-40. Will Rus have a chance to break? NO! GAME. HOLD. 5-4

23:06 IST: Rus is serving. Another game of the same kind. Rus is adamant to HOLD her serve, Serena is unable to have breakpoints. 40-30. Rus serves and HOLD. 4-4, a close competition.

23:03 IST: BOOOOM! Acing it Serena Williams. 15-0. A fault followed by an ace. A second serve and point for Serena. Another point for Serena as she has yet another game with the triple game point. A good HOLD from Serena. 4-3

22:58 IST: Rus starts to serve. What is happening?? Rus seems to mock Serena. Rus is now leading the game 40-0 with triple breakpoints. She is declaring that Serena should not consider Rus any less. Point for Serena 40-15. Still game point for Rus. GAME. HOLD for Rus. 3-3

22:56 IST: Serena Williams is back with her boom boom service. She is leading her service game with a triple game point as Rus fails to return the serves. GAME Serena Williams leads 3-2 with a phenomenal hold of serve, no points won in this game by Rus.

22:54 IST: Advantage to Rus, will she hold now? Game point for Rus as she serves and GAME! Serena fails to convert her breakpoint and Rus successfully tackles a serve break scare. HOLD. The score is level 2-2

22:50 IST: Rus starts off in a similar fashion and gives the first point to Serena. 0-15. But here she levels it to 15-15 by a good serve. Serena is not in the mood to give Rus a hold. 15-30 Serena in the lead. First, serve fault, the Second serve garners Rus another point. She makes it 30-30. Rus might just lose this game. Will Serena break as she leads 30-40? Another first fault. Point for Rus. Williams gave away the chance for a break. DEUCE

22:48 IST: Serena has given the first point to Rus. She cannot lag behind. BOOOOOOM Ace! from Serena Williams. She makes it 15-15. With a double breakpoint, Serena William HOLDS her serve and leads 2-1.

22:46 IST: The Dutch is aiming for a hold of serve. She needs to give a fight to Serena. Rus begins her service game and goes ahead to hold her serve. Rus gave Serena two points in her serve game but ultimately it is a HOLD by Rus 1-1

22:40 IST: Serena Williams starts off the proceedings. She has the first breakpoint in the first game as she serves. HOLD for Serena Williams. SERENA leads 1-0

22:00 IST: On the Grandstand, Serena Williams and Arantxa Rus are awaited. They will start their Round 2 clash soon

Serena Williams played Top Seed Open in Lexington and displayed her phenomenal performance before crashing out against Shelby Rogers. Serena will play in New York and hope to perform better than last week. She will also play a crucial US Open aiming at the 24th Grand slam title.

Arantxa Rus has won her first round in straight sets against Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium. She will now face the American legend on her home ground. Rus has a golden opportunity to break into the top 50 rankings at the tournament, provided she can beat the home favourite Serena.

Serena Williams vs Arantxa Rus | Head-to-Head

Arantxa Rus [NED] | Australian Open

Only once before both the women have played against each other. It was in the Round of 128 in Wimbledon two years back, when Serena Williams convincingly ousted Arantxa Rus in two sets 7-5, 6-3.