Williams: Azarenka clash was like a semi

Serena Williams felt her third-round victory over fourth seed Victoria Azarenka at the US Open yesterday was worthy of a semi-final.

The 28th seed and title favourite looked to be cruising at a set and 5-3 up with three match points but Azarenka fought back, saving a fourth match point, only for Williams to edge the second-set tie-break and win 6-1 7-6 (7-5).

For a set the American, who was sidelined for almost a year with injury and health problems, played tennis that no one in the women’s draw can match, but she still came off court dissatisfied.

Williams said: “I think in the first set I played some really good tennis. I think in the second set she played really, really good tennis. She kind of dictated and I allowed that.

“I think every player wants to play that way but stay in that zone. I give her all credit. She totally lifted up her game and she totally started playing better.

“I definitely wasn’t happy with the way I played overall today. I think my serve, especially in the second set, I was below 50 per cent (of first serves). I was a wee bit disappointed. But I can build on it.

“I think the whole match was a semi-final. At the end of the day, it was a third round. I’m only in the round of 16 now. I’ve got to keep going the best I can.”

Of the chances she had to wrap it up much sooner, Williams added: “I felt on the match points I maybe could have played more aggressively. But for the most part I think she played well.

“It’s really annoying when you just blow the shots for no reason. I don’t feel like I blew the shots. I just felt like she played well and I didn’t play aggressively enough.”

Azarenka, who described the first five games as “painful”, believes Williams is playing more than well enough to win the tournament, saying: “Yeah, definitely. She’s playing at a higher level than actually I’ve seen her play in a few years.”

The Belarusian was the unlucky player who had to meet Williams early due to the American being seeded low down, but she was philosophical about it.

“I’m not going to sit here and cry about the fact I had a tough draw,” she said.

“If I want to be good, if I want to be a champion, I have to beat the best players.

“I really felt like I raised my level. It was just very little that was not enough today.”

In the fourth round Williams will play former world number one Ana Ivanovic, who ended the run of US teen Sloane Stephens with a 6-3 6-4 victory in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

World number one Caroline Wozniacki blamed the windy conditions for her less-than-convincing performance against Vania King.

The Dane came through 6-2 6-4 but the scoreline did not reflect the tightness of the match, and had King taken more than three of her 10 break point chances it could well have been different.

Wozniacki said: “I won, I think that’s the most positive thing. It’s great to be through. I was fighting a lot out there, getting quite a lot of balls back. But it’s quite windy out there, so it was difficult to play.”

Next up for the top seed is former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, who saw off Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan 6-4 6-2.

Seventh seed Francesca Schiavone survived a major scare against unheralded South African Chanelle Scheepers before coming through 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

Scheepers served for the match at 5-4 in the second set and had a match point but she could not take it and Schiavone, who needed treatment for breathing problems, was stronger in the decider.

Eleventh seed Jelena Jankovic crashed out to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who continues to make strides at the grand slams this year.

The 20-year-old 17th seed, who will face Schiavone next, reached her first quarter-final at the French Open in June and equalled her run here last year with a 6-4 6-4 victory over the 2008 finalist.

Tenth seed Andrea Petkovic was in impressive form, beating Italian Roberta Vinci 6-4 6-0 despite her knee problems and she will meet Carla Suarez Navarro.

The Spaniard enjoyed a perfect 23rd birthday present as she saw off qualifier Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-0 6-4 to become the first female player from Spain to reach the fourth round in 11 years.