Serena Williams reaches US Open final

Sports Desk: Serena Williams has another shot at winning a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title after demolishing Elina Svitolina to reach the US Open final.

The American, 37, overpowered the Ukrainian fifth seed to win 6-3 6-1.

Williams, seeded eighth, is aiming for her first Grand Slam win since giving birth in September 2017.

The six-time champion will face Canadian 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu in Saturday's final in New York.
In a gripping encounter, Andreescu defeated 22-year-old Swiss Belinda Bencic 7-6 (7-3) 7-5, winning the last five games of the match.

Andreescu, who is playing in the US Open main draw for the first time and competing in only her fourth Grand Slam, was born nine months after Williams won her first title at Flushing Meadows in 1999.

Williams is already considered by many as the greatest female player ever, yet will not be satisfied herself until she has levelled - and then overtaken - Australian Margaret Court's total of all-time Grand Slam singles titles.

Following the difficult birth of daughter Olympia two years ago which almost cost Williams her life, she has reached consecutive Wimbledon finals - plus last year's controversial US Open showpiece against Naomi Osaka - without capping what has already been a remarkable comeback with another major win.

For Williams to not go on and win a seventh US Open title - an Open era record in the women's singles - would be a major shock on the evidence of her performances over the past two weeks.

 

risingbd/Sept 6, 2019/Mukul