Serena Survives At Wimbledon, Will Meet Venus Next

Venus and Serena Williams walked onto their courts at precisely the same time on Friday, Serena to face British No. 1 Heather Watson; Venus to face Aleksandra Krunic. The sisters will walk out at the same time Monday again in the fourth round. This time, to face each other.

Serena defeated Watson 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, while Venus advanced 6-3, 6-2.

"[Watson] was just playing so good there was nothing I could do," Serena said after the match. 

Asked if she will speak to Venus over the weekend, Serena said, "I mean not about the match, but she’s in better form than I am, so I think she has a little bit of an advantage going into that match, but at least one of us will be in the quarterfinal so that’s good." 

For Serena, the victory kept alive her hope of a Grand Slam of two sorts: she's won both Slam events this year, and with a Wimbledon victory will have won four straight dating back to last year's U.S. Open.

Watson played the match of her life, leading 3-0 in the third and nearly pulling off the stunning upset before Serena turned up her game.

Serena needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set, dropping only three points in her first four service games. Watson struggled with the strength of Serena’s second serves, looking overmatched against the veteran. She also struggled with her own first serves.

But the young Brit showed just how much fight she has in her during a colossal second set. She started playing more aggressively, jumping out to a 0-30 advantage with Serena serving at 2-2. When Serena earned the next point, the 20-time Grand Slam champ was clearly fired up, letting out a loud “Come on!” while pumping her fist.

Watson kept battling back, though, clearly understanding that winning this game could keep her alive in the match. It would prove to be the turning point. As Serena committed a rare error – she double faulted to give Watson the break and the 3-2 advantage – the crowd went wild.

No British woman has won Wimbledon since Virginia Wade did so in 1977. Watson was the last British woman remaining in this year’s singles draw, making her the nation’s great hope.

But this is Serena, and she was fired up. A fired up Serena is nearly impossible to beat. She broke Watson back to even the set at 3-3, then held for the 4-3 advantage. Battle on. Watson held for 4-4, then broke again as Serena sent a forehand wide. With Watson serving for the set, Serena failed to convert on a break-point opportunity. Watson capitalized, taking the set 6-4.

The third set was an all-out battle, the score not showing just how many games wavered between deuce, advantage, deuce, advantage. Watson came out on the winning end of the first three.

Trailing 3-0, Serena earned five break-point opportunities. Finally, on the sixth, she got it. She looked absolutely jubilant. She quickly held serve. At 3-2, Watson built a 40-love lead before Williams fought back to 40-40, then earned the break. She’d serve for the advantage. When Watson shanked a shot into the net, giving Williams her fourth consecutive game, the tables had clearly turned. Suddenly Serena’s story was back on track.

Suddenly it looked like Serena would be joining Venus in the fourth round. Venus had long earlier completed her win over Krunic.

Back at Centre Court, Watson held serve to even the set at 4-all. She broke Serena to take the 5-4 advantage, and everyone held their breath. They were watching the best match of the week, if not of the entire year. Watson had to serve out the win.

Watson held off two break points, but Serena converted on the third, then held serve in rapid fashion, taking the 6-5 advantage. Now, Serena needed one more break for the win. Watson went up 30-love, but then came Serena. She earned match point. Watson held. She earned another match up. Watson held. Third match point. And finally, it ended. Serena escaped with the win, nearly brought to tears on the final point.

She’d meet Venus in the fourth round. The story went according to plan. Serena is still on track.

This will be the sixth time the sisters meet at Wimbledon. Serena holds the 3-2 advantage in the series, and the overall 14-11 advantage in their 25 career meetings.