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Serena Williams Dominates Ana Ivanovic at U.S. Open

The 13-time Grand Slam champion is now the clear favorite to win the women's U.S. Open title.

Serena Williams was feeling maybe a little frustrated and perhaps she was even looking to send a message to 16-seeded Ana Ivanovic during Monday’s U.S. Open fourth round when she yelled “Come on!”

 

It was heard and felt by all.

 

Most importantly, it provided Williams with the motivation to hold off the surging Ivanovic on the way to a 6-3, 6-4 victory that put the 13-time Grand Slam winner into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. The 28-seeded Williams, who hasn’t won a major title since the 2010 Wimbledon, is now the clear favorite to win her fourth U.S. Open championship.

 

But the topic of conversation after Monday’s match was Williams’ apparent intimidation factor.

 

When asked if she tries to be intimidating on the court, Williams replied: “No, I don’t try. I just am.”

 

But her intimidation was much less verbal and more in her dominating, in-your-face game. Williams served nine aces while allowing Ivanovic one break all day Monday.

 

“I just have confidence in [my serve]. It’s a weapon,” said Williams, who was out of tennis for nearly a year with an injury and a life-threatening illness before returning to the game this summer. “I’m just like, ‘OK, I’m going to hit an ace here.’ I hit an ace.”’

 

Now that that confidence has returned along with her killer serve, the belief is that Williams has set herself up to win a 14th Grand Slam title this week. She is the only woman remaining in the field who has ever won a Grand Slam championship.

 

Contact Terrance Harris at terrancefharris@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Terranceharris

(Photo: Nick Laham/GettyImages)

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