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Agence France-Presse

Serena Williams struggled but advanced toward the first calendar grand slam since 1988 by defeating Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, on Wednesday at the US Open.
I know I can make a comeback, make a run for it
Serena Williams
World number one Williams, a three-time defending champion seeking her seventh US Open title overall, was outplayed early by her 110th-ranked rival at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
But the 33-year-old American overcame 34 unforced errors and 10 double faults, improving to 50-2 on the year and sustaining her march toward history.

“I just kept fighting for each point, not for a lot but just one at a time,” Williams said.
“I had been pretty relaxed. Today I was a little tight. I think it showed. Hopefully I can get back to where I was before.”
Williams is trying to complete the first calendar grand slam since Steffi Graf 27 years ago and equal Graf’s open era record of 22 slam singles titles, two shy of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record.
Williams completed her second “Serena Slam” of four major wins in a row by winning the Wimbledon crown in July and the 33-year-old American can extend her mark as the oldest woman Slam champion.
READ MORE: Check out the rest of our US Open 2015 coverage here
Bertens was aggressive early, breaking for a 2-1 lead on a running forehand winner, and Williams was off from the start, breaking back to level the first set 5-5 but then double faulting four times before holding on the way to the tie-breaker.

Bertens jumped ahead 4-0 in the tie-breaker but surrendered the next five points on unforced errors and eventually handed the set to Williams, who broke three times in the second set to seal the hard-fought win.
“It definitely doesn’t worry me, being down a lot,” Williams said. “I know I can make a comeback, make a run for it.”
But her form was so shocking that Williams ran to the practice courts to work on serves for more than an hour.
Today I was a little tight. I think it showed. Hopefully I can get back to where I was before
Serena Williams
Next up for Williams will be fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who beat compatriot CoCo Vandeweghe 6-2, 6-1.
“I’ll have to play a little better if I want to win,” Williams said.
Spanish eighth seed Rafael Nadal, a 14-time grand slam champion, ousted Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 7-5.
“Happy to be through,” Nadal said. “Was a tough battle. I feel lucky to be through.”
Nadal was down 5-4 in the tie-breaker before battling back, saying, “That was the key almost of the match. To take that first set was very important to me.”
READ MORE: Serena Williams already the best of all time, tennis greats agree
Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 US Open champion who missed last year’s event with an injury, improved to 22-1 in past 23 US Open matches after missing 2012 and 2014 due to injury and finishing as the 2011 runner-up.
On a quarter-final collision course with Nadal is top-ranked Novak Djokovic, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion who attempts to take another step toward his fifth US Open final in six tries later versus Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer.
Defending champion Marin Cilic and seventh seed David Ferrer advanced nearer a fourth-round meeting.
Croatian ninth seed Cilic fired 19 aces and advanced to the third round by defeating 139th-ranked Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
“It’s sort of unreal. I was working all my life to win a grand slam and now I’m working to defend one,” Cilic said.

Spain’s Ferrer, the 2013 French Open runner-up who missed the past 2 1/2 months with an elbow injury, downed 102nd-ranked Serb Filip Krajinovic 7-5, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4).
“I’m very happy I’m in the third round,” said Ferrer. “It’s a nice comeback playing on these courts.”
Williams could reach a grand slam singles final without facing a top-10 rival for the first time in her career.
Swiss teen Belinda Bencic, the highest seed remaining in Williams’ half of the draw at 12, faced Japan’s 88th-ranked Misaki Doi later.
Bencic, who defeated Williams in the Toronto semi-finals last month, could play Serena’s older sister, Venus, who meets fellow American Irina Falconi later, in the third round.
Either Bencic, 18, or Venus, 35, could meet Serena in the quarter-finals.
Australian Open semi-finalist Madison Keys ripped 100th-ranked Czech Tereza Smitkova 6-1, 6-2. The American 19th seed hopes for a fourth-round date with Serena Williams, who ousted her in Australia.
It’s sort of unreal. I was working all my life to win a grand slam and now I’m working to defend one
Marin Cilic
“Fingers crossed it could happen. If it does happen I could come out and have some fun at my home Slam,” Keys said.
Canadian 25th seed Eugenie Bouchard advanced over Slovenia’s Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, to reach round three. She had not won back-to-back matches since March.
“She was tough getting balls back but I held my nerve at the end which I thought was the key to the match. I’m excited to win two matches in a row.”


Djokovic's drive: why Serbian star could become first man to complete grand slam for nearly 50 years

Novak Djokovic outclasses Roger Federer to win his second US Open title and 10th slam of his career

Italy’s Flavia Pennetta pulls off shock US Open victory, then drops another bombshell: ‘I’m retiring’

Sabr stunner: Roger Federer cuts down Stan Wawrinka with deadly new weapon to set up US Open final with Novak Djokovic

US Open tennis 2015

Battling Serena Williams struggles into round three at US Open against world No 110

Serena Williams was forced to battle her way into round three at Flushing Meadows. Photo: Reuters

Williams needed a tie-break to come through the first set against the world No 110. Photo: Reuters

Eugenie Bouchard put her poor form aside to make round three at Flushing Meadows. Photo: AP

Serena Williams feeling no pressure ahead of US Open grand slam bid

Serena Williams says she's ready for the media onslaught. Photo: Reuters

Serena Williams has already completed 'the Serena Slam'. Photo: Reuters

Serena Williams with this season's French and Australian Open trophies. Photo: AP

Serena Williams with trophies from this year's Wimbledon and last year's US Open. Photo: AP

Serena Williams relaxes before US Open with celebrity karaoke session

Serena Williams sang 'Under the Sea', from 'The Little Mermaid'. Photo: AP

Kei Nishikori was also at the sing-song. Photo: AP 

Sport

Tennis

American makes hard work of Dutch qualifier; Rafa Nadal advances; Hong Kong-bound Eugenie Bouchard wins back-to-back matches for the first time since March


Serena Williams struggled but advanced toward the first calendar grand slam since 1988 by defeating Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, on Wednesday at the US Open.


Serena Williams