WTA: Venus Williams loses set despite 5-0 lead – and wins match

Venus Williams has reached the eighth-finals of Key Biscane’s WTA Premier Mandatory Tournament in Miami in a curious way. The American recovered from a frivolously playful first set and fought Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands to a 5:7, 6:3, 7:5 victory.

“I was allowed to play at home today, in front of a full house – I hope you had fun,” Williams said after the match in the on-court interview. Before she fought a truly entertaining battle of nerves with Bertens for almost three hours.

In the first set Williams came out of the starting blocks much better and led after a short time with two breaks and 5-0. But afterwards her opponent came into play better and better and won, believe it or not, seven games in a row. After Bertens defended three set points at 5:3, she used her third set lead after 52 minutes.

“I just missed a few shots in a set point, sometimes I chose the wrong ball,” admitted 37-year-old Williams, “and suddenly you find yourself in the middle of a battle. It didn’t look good at times, but that’s why you give it all in such a match right up to the last point”.

Although she got off to a better start again in the second set, she was quickly trailing 2:3 and break. But then she had to start a run herself and secured the following four games to equalize the sets.

In the decisive round, the seven-time Grand Slam winner lost her second service game and ran after a 1:4 deficit. With 3:5 and serve Bertens Williams fended off two match points, a little later even a third, and finally won with 7:5.

Now Williams will meet last year’s winner Johanna Konta from Great Britain, who is seeded eleventh in Florida. Konta only gave three games in her second match of the tournament against the Belgian Elise Mertens.

Monica Puig continued her successful run after her victory over Caroline Wozniacki on one of the outdoor courts. The lady from Puerto Rico won against Maria Sakkari in two sets. Ashleigh Barty beat Petra Martic 6-4, 6-3.

All results from Miami at a glance