Defending champion Serena Williams knows she has a tough battle to defend her US Open title
Serena Williams feels she brings the best out of US Open final opponent Victoria Azarenka.u00a0The pair will meet in the showpiece match at Flushing Meadows for the second successive year.
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Serena Williams celebrates after winning her singles semi-final match against Li Na on Friday. Pic/AFP
Williams goes into the match as the clear favourite, but that was also the case 12 months ago and Azarenka very nearly pulled off a shock.u00a0The Belarusian served for the match only for Williams to take it 7-5 in the third, but this year Azarenka has had the edge on her rival.
Beaten Serena twice this year
Williams has lost only four matches this season, and two of them have been against Azarenka, includingu00a0in their final match before this tournament in Cincinnati.
The world number one said: “Both matches she played really well. I let myself down at opportunities and I didn’t take them. If I’m able to get another opportunity I have to take it, because she is always pumped and she does really well.
“I definitely feel like when she plays me she plays her best, by far. I have seen her play other players, and when I play her I’m playing a totally different player. Obviously she brings out her best game.”
As great as Williams’ season has been, she has only won one grand slam title - a much cherished second French Open crown.
A fifth US Open title would give her 17 grand slam singles trophies, level with Roger Federer and only one behind Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.
So close, yet so far
Williams said: “I thought about that, but I can’t think about that. It’s so close but it’s still so far. I have to win against a great player and I have to play great tennis.
“With that being said, I have to do it all over again (for 18). Nothing is guaranteed. The only thing that’s guaranteed is I can go out there and just try to do my best, and whatever happens, just learn from whatever experience I get from it.”
Williams and Azarenka are friends but also two of the fiercest competitors in tennis, and one thing that can be guaranteed is neither will give an inch.
“That’s the great part it about it,” said Williams. “We completely get along, and once the match is on we are completely opponents. That’s what it’s about.
“We leave everything on the court, play as hard as we can, almost as if we’ve never met each other in our lives.”
As well as Azarenka competes against Williams, if the American continues the form she has shown all tournament then the second seed really does have her work cut out.u00a0
Williams has lost just 16 games in six matches, and she has won three of her last four sets to love.u00a0She also has a new target, having never defended a US Open title before.
“Just to be able to defend a title for once would be really awesome,” she said. “I have done so well here the past few times I have played, getting to the semis or getting to the final. It’s been really, really exciting.”
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