Supreme Serena storms into US Open final

Serena Williams produced an exceptional display of attacking first-strike tennis to sweep into the finals of the US Open for the ninth time.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion overwhelmed semifinal debutant Anastasija Sevastova 6-3 6-0 in just 66 minutes, booking a place in her 31st major final.

Williams trailed the Latvian 2-0 before rolling through 12 of the last 13 games.

She sealed victory with a final forehand winner – her 31st of the match – and celebrated with a subdued fist pump towards her entourage.

Williams will next face the winner of the second semifinal between Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka.

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“I just was like, I gotta play a little better. Again the crowd was so intense and helped me out so much after those first two games,” Serena said during her on-court interview.

“I was like, alright, these guys really wanna be out here and see me play and so I wanna give them the best that I can.”

Sevastova arrived in her first Grand Slam semifinal after beating defending champion Sloane Stephens.

One can only wonder if Stephens, the world No.3, would have given Serena a better, more compelling fight than what Sevastova managed on Thursday night.

But this was Serena at near-peak level. She won more than three-quarters of her first-serve points, was broken only once during the match while breaking Sevastova five times, and struck 11 more winners than unforced errors.

But it was her ability to keep points short and pile the pressure on her opponent by coming to the net; she won 24 of 28 points in the forecourt, a net-rushing tactic that took tennis twitter and commentators by (pleasant) surprise.

The Serena Williams power and serve get the headlines. But her net play is what’s getting the job done here. Never seen her at the net this much. Blunts Sevastova slice/drop shot game. Williams has great sense of when to leave volleys.

19 of 22 net approaches won. 8/8 in set 2.

— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) September 7, 2018

“Well I’ve been working hard on my volleys,” Williams said.

“I have won a few doubles championships so I know how to volley (laughter). I just usually come in only to shake hands. But tonight I thought I’m playing such a good player, and I knew that if I wanted to have a chance tonight against Anastasija I had to come in.

“I wanted to try something different today and it worked in my favour.”

With the win, Williams reaches her second straight Grand Slam final, after progressing to the same stage at Wimbledon.

Since returning to the tour six months ago at Indian Wells in March, she has built a win-loss record of 18-5 and has dropped just one set this fortnight at Flushing Meadows.

She’s 16-1 this year in Grand Slam play alone.

“It’s honestly really incredible. A year ago I was fighting for literally my life at the hospital after I had the baby. So every day I step out on this court I’m so grateful that I have an opportunity to play this sport,” she said.

“No matter what happens in any match, you know, semis, finals, I feel like I’ve already won.

“To come this far so fast — and I’m just beginning, you guys, this has only been a few months. So I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year and next year. I’m really looking forward to the possibilities.

“This is just the beginning and I’m really excited about that.”