US Open: After a three-set victory: Serena Williams can continue to dream of the title

Serena Williams (36) has reached the quarter-finals of the US Open in New York despite losing her first set in the tournament.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner from the USA beat Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6:0, 4:6, 6:3 after a lightning start and a subsequent weak phase. Kanepi had eliminated top seeded Simona Halep (Romania) in the first round.

Williams gave her three years younger opponent no chance at the beginning. After the first set it looked like another quick run victory for the longtime number one in the tennis world. Already against Magda Linette from Poland (6:4, 6:0), Carina Witthöft from Hamburg (6:2, 6:2) and her sister Venus (6:1, 6:2) Serena Williams had proven her form.

But Kanepi fought back, only after 1:37 hours with 18 aces and 47 winning strokes Williams turned her first match point. She is targeting her 24th Grand Slam title, which would set the record for Australian Margaret Court. In Tuesday’s quarter-final Williams will face Czech Karolina Pliskova, who lost to Angelique Kerber (Kiel) in the New York final two years ago.

In Flushing Meadows, Williams celebrated her last of six victories so far in 2014. Last year she was missing because of the birth of her daughter Olympia, in March she returned to the tour in Indian Wells, California.