NEW YORK—Sparring partners spent the day exchanging heavy blows and pushing each other into the corners of the court. Serena Williams practiced with Varvara Lepchenko this summer, but the reigning U.S. Open champion was in no mood to go the distance today. Absorbing heavy shots in some physical rallies, Williams showed her fierce appetite for the fight, scoring a 6-3, 6-3 victory to reach the fourth round for the 14th time.
Don't be fooled by the straight-forward scoreline. A tricky wind, the twisting topspin of her left-handed opponent, and the fact that Serena spent some time fighting frustration over failed break-point chances made this a tougher test than the result suggests.
Still, the world No. 1 should draw plenty of positives from her most demanding match of the tournament. She fought with passion, stayed focused despite converting just four of 13 break points, defended her serve with defiance, and moved forcefully to battle past a veteran opponent.
The growth of younger compatriots—Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, and Taylor Townsend—has left Lepchenko, the ninth of 12 Americans ranked in the Top 100, lost in the shuffle. The former world No. 19 has trained extensively at the National Tennis Center, but hasn't always looked at home in Flushing Meadows, falling in the first round in three of her last four appearances. Lepchenko's crackling lefty forehand is her kill shot—Williams didn't always read its direction accurately in the first set—and she leaned into her two-handed backhand with confidence as well, hitting 10 more winners (24 to 14) than the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
The top seed broke first for a 3-1 advantage, but serving with the wind at her back, she struggled to adapt her spin to the swirl that blew up the back of her pink leopard print dress and once knocked Lepchenko's blue baseball cap right off her head. Lepchenko flattened a forehand down the line breaking back for 2-3 before drilling a running forehand pass to hold for 3-3.
