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John Sommers II | REUTERS
By
Joe Kay
MASON, Ohio — Only one of the Williams sisters is heading to a semifinal, and it’s not the one
with the long winning streak. Serena Williams lost that — and her cool — at the Western
Southern Open.
Williams’ 19-match winning streak was ended by Germany’s Angelique Kerber yesterday, a 6-4, 6-4
defeat that marked the first time she even lost a set since her title at Wimbledon. The
third-longest winning streak of her career didn’t end quietly.
She flung her racket at the ground, picked it up and slammed it on the court again as the second
set slipped away.
“I probably need a break,” she said.
While Serena fumed over missed shots, her older sister, Venus, reached the semifinals of a
tournament for the first time this season by defeating Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4.
On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro won in straight sets, setting up a
rematch of their bronze-medal match at the Olympics, which del Potro won.
Top-ranked Roger Federer defeated Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 (4) to reach a semifinal. He will play
Stanislas Wawrinka, who defeated Milos Raonic 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
After all of her summer success on Wimbledon’s grass, Serena Williams is having a tough time
getting readjusted to hard surfaces. One of the best stretches of her career included single and
doubles gold medals at the Olympics in London.
She came into last night’s match with a 64-4 record in the summer hard-court season the past two
years. Against Kerber, her game fell apart.
She missed so many easy shots that after she hit an overhead that landed in the court, she
smiled and raised her arms in mock triumph.
Her sister believes the past few weeks have caught up with her.
“She’s played so many matches since Wimbledon,” Venus said, as her sister struggled on the
court. “I don’t think anyone has played as many matches and played as successfully as her.
“I think some rest is in order for her.”
Wearing an Olympics shirt after her match, Serena agreed she needs a little time to get
recharged for the U.S. Open.
“I’ll be better in New York, I promise,” she said.
First, she’s going to stick around to watch her sister’s resurgence. Venus raised her arms and
jumped — kicking up her heels — after winning a three-setter for the third time in the tournament,
an indication she’s learning to manage an immune-system disorder that leaves her tired.
She next will play Li Na.
“For me and everything that’s gone on in my life, it’s a huge achievement, and I want to take it
further,” Venus said.
The top women’s seed lost. Agnieszka Radwanska got treatment on her shoulder while losing 6-1,
6-1 to Li, who had to play two matches yesterday. Li defeated Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-2 in a match
that was postponed by rain on Thursday.
Petra Kvitova defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 7-6 (4) and will play Kerber in a
semifinal.
Del Potro has been hampered by a sore left wrist that will be examined before the U.S. Open,
which he won in 2009. He defeated France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-1, 6-3 to advance. Djokovic defeated
Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-2.
“He won that match,” Djokovic said of the Olympics. “It happens. You lose, you win, but the most
important thing is to try to move on and become even better and even stronger from those
experiences. And try to win.”
