1 more for 24: Serena Williams qualifies for the US Open final

NEW YORK (AP) – Serena Williams has never been perfect at the start of her semifinal Open of the United States.

She faced three break points during the opening match and managed to get out of it. She dragged 40 love in the second, then came back again. Another trio of stitches arrived later in this initial set. Once again, Williams was up to the task. Soon she was heading to another Flushing Meadows Finals – and another chance to win the No. 24 Grand Slam Trophy.

Williams made an increasingly impressive performance for a 6-3, 6-1 win over fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina of China at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night, reaching her fourth final in the last six major tournaments.

"To be in another final, he seems honestly crazy," said Williams, six-time opening champion in the United States, who will face Canadian Bianca Andreescu, 19, on Saturday. "But I do not really expect much less."

Or someone else at this point.

"That's why she is what she is.You play in front of the best tennis player in the world," Svitolina said. "If you do not take it, it just catches it, and there is no chance of it recovering."

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Since returning on tour last season, after more than a year of absence, she has been a finalist twice at Wimbledon, losing to Angelique Kerber in 2018 and Simona Halep in July. She was also a finalist of course, a year ago at the US Open, he lost to Naomi Osaka.

This one in New York was overshadowed and will always be overshadowed by Williams' prolonged discussions with chair-umpire Carlos Ramos, who allowed him to score a point and then a match. sister, Venus, played in this year's tournament.

When asked if she would like to find the motivation for this final against Osaka or if she preferred to forget about it, Williams looked straight ahead and said, "I mean, that does not matter to me. did not really go through the spirit. "

15th seeded Andreescu won her first major title game in just her fourth Slam appearance by eliminating Belgian B 13 Belinda Bencic 7-6 (3), 7-5.

"If someone told me a year ago that I would be competing in the US Open final this year, I would have told him," You are crazy, "said Andreescu, who won the last five games of his semifinal 5- 2

She is the first player to go so far in her New York debut since Venus Williams was a finalist in 1997.

"It's just surreal," said Andreescu about the prospect of facing Serena Williams. "Like, I really do not know what to say."

Much of what young Williams is doing these days must be seen through the prism of the history of tennis, and this is certainly the case in this case. His 101st career game at Flushing Meadows equaled Chris Evert's tournament record.

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"It's just awesome, I guess," Williams said. "I do not think so, I just came out here and I do what I can."

In qualifying for the final, Williams scored the longest gap between the first career Grand Slam title and his most recent appearance: he's almost exactly 20 full years since winning the 1999 US Open.

More importantly, if she can beat Andreescu, Williams will equal Margaret Court with 24 Grand Slam single titles, more than anyone else in a sport that dates back to the 19th century.

Short, however, won more than half of his against amateur competition before professionals were allowed to play in major tournaments from 1968.

It was the 38th semifinal of Williams' Grand Slam, just the second for Svitolina, 24 years old.

From the beginning, however, it was Svitolina who was more stable. She deserved these three opportunities to break from the start – but failed to convert. Then she let the second game escape him too. In all, Svitolina has held eight points in the first pair and has nothing to show. Quickly, it was 3-0 for Williams.

"I do not think she's played an extraordinary game today," said Svitolina, "but she played (at a) very high level at the start, where it had to make a difference."

If it was not as unbalanced as Williams offered in a 6-1 win, 6-1 against Maria Sharapova in the first round or a 6-1 win, 6-0 over Wang Qiang in 44 minutes , it was pretty successful.

The assessment of Williams?

"Today was solid," she said. "It was definitely not my best tennis."

Nevertheless, she launched top speeds of up to 120 km / h and saved all break points she faced. She hit three winners in one game. She made some of the best shots you can see. A billiard shark would enjoy angles, at the height of a 10-3 point advantage that lasted nine strokes or more. She finished with a 34-11 advantage in the winners. She showed no trace of the persistent effect of an ankle rolled earlier in the tournament.

As for good measure, Williams even launched a service and volley approach while facing the breaking point of the first set – and, of course, it worked through a bang.

"Do not expect that anymore," Williams said jokingly as it went through his head: "What do I do at the net ?! Let me go back to the base!"

Maybe Svitolina, who had been upset by Williams in five previous matches at the Rio Olympics in 2016, was too passive, happy to stay behind and try to chase everything out there. sent.

It was not the right strategy. At least not against this opponent, in this match, that day.

"On the important moments, she moves forward, always," says Svitolina, "she always brings her best match".

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This is generally the case for Williams, even as his 38th birthday approaches in three weeks. It was just not in the three most important games of his return: three Grand Slam finals, three losses.

She will try again on Saturday.

One more for 24.

"Obviously, I've learned a lot in the past," said Williams, "but I just have to go (and), especially, above all, just stay relaxed."