Serena gets a scare, but avoids upset with three-set win over McHale

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla.—Christina McHale gave Serena Williams a run for her money on Thursday by pushing her to a third set. But an upset would not shake the South Florida grounds, as Williams pulled it out, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.

Williams has begun a campaign for a record ninth Miami Open title, albeit the unsteady start.

To her credit, she began the match with conviction, going up 5-1 by pushing McHale around the court handily. However, the New Jersey native eventually settled into the momentous occasion of facing one of her idols. The only previous time a showdown between these two was set to happen was in Rome last year, but Williams was forced to withdraw.

“I’m just really excited,” McHale said on Wednesday after defeating Misaki Doi in the first round. “Her and Venus were my favorite players growing up, so it’s a huge honor for me. Obviously, I want to win, though. It’s going to be a really tough ask.”

That desire to win came through in the second set. The world No. 54 began stretching out points, and played with greater conviction and more confidence. Still, Williams is No. 1 for good reason, and had the match in her hands at 5-3.

But McHale would not be denied, and the crowd was eager for more. It was more than happy to cheer on the underdog despite the consistent shouts for Serena resonating throughout the stadium.

“She just started playing better, and playing tennis that she has never played before,” Williams said. “I just made a few mistakes, and then I just had to pull myself back together.”

McHale refused to give up. She clawed her way back to even things up at 5-5, and then likely surprised even herself by taking the final two games for the set. Williams’ tendency for unforced errors reared its ugly head, and that helped McHale get back in the match.

“I think she did a really good job,” Williams said. “She can, should and will be very proud of herself in this match… It can show her how good she is, and what a good player she is.”

The two Americans have been teammates on Fed Cup and Olympic teams, and they had only good things to say about each other. Williams called McHale an “unbelievably sweet girl,” and the 23-year-old returned the love.

“She’s always been super nice and really funny—like really, really funny to be around,” McHale said of the 21-time Grand Slam champion. “I’m always entertained.”

On Thursday, Williams racked up 43 unforced errors, but she also had 13 aces to bail her out. You can almost always count on that stellar Serena serve to come through.

An upset brewed, but it didn’t come to pass. Williams wanted her 19th consecutive victory in Miami, and she got it by dominating the third set, 6-2.

The top seed plays unseeded Zarina Diyas next.