She made her way into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Elise Mertens on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday night that was a bit more hard than the score indicated, but it was a solid effort.
Serving for the match at 5-3 Williams didn't allow any room for doubt, holding at love with two aces and an overhead smash followed by one last ace.
Stephens, who has not dropped a set in four matches at Flushing Meadows this year, lost to Mertens at the Cincinnati warm-up last month but was never in danger of suffering a repeat as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 26 minutes.
Sloane Stephens revealed she had been struggling with a sinus infection prior to her US Open exit at the hands of Anastasija Sevastova, but she refused to blame the illness for the defeat.
The 25-year-old looked off-colour and although the junior play on other courts was suspended Stephens and Sevastova carried on.
Six-time champion Serena Williams shook off a sluggish start to power past eighth-seeded Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday and into the US Open semi-finals.
"So the fact that I made it to the quarter-finals and played some really good matches and I just competed as hard as I could, I mean (there's) a lot to be proud of". Anastasija Sevastova, the 19-seed from Latvia, stunned Stephens with 6-2, 6-3 victories in straight sets.
Federer, the five-time champion and looking to end his 10-year wait to add to his total in NY, was beaten by Australia's world No. 55 John Millman 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-3). Today, I served well at certain moments, so I think I'm on the right track.
This is a rematch of the French Open final, won by Nadal in June. The Mallorcan lost in the Melbourne quarters, won Roland Garros for an 11th time, and fell to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semis this year.
"I did not have many goals", said the Latvian.
"When you don't play big points well, the match can get away from you". Sevastova now has broken her opponents' serve 28 times in her five matches at the US Open.
She has had her best results in her second career, particularly in NY, where she has now reached the quarter-finals twice and the semi-finals once in the last three years.
Nadal was tested in his last two rounds, edging past Karen Khachanov in four close sets in round three, before dropping a set to Basilashvili on Sunday. "When you're winning a tournament, you think that's normal".
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