Serena Williams win exposes grim grand slam reality for Ash Barty
Serena Williams has made a mockery of the woman who knocked Ash Barty out of the US Open, highlighting an uncomfortable truth about Australia’s World No.1.
Serena’s march towards a record-equalling 24th grand slam singles title gathered momentum as she routed Qiang Wang in just 44 minutes to advance to the semi-finals on Tuesday.
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The American didn't get much resistance from her opponent - dropping just one game as Wang failed to hit a single winner.
Fans flocked to social media in a frenzy over the ‘brutal’ and ‘savage’ display.
It was an incredible statement considering Wang had dumped Barty out in the fourth round just 48 hours earlier.
In thrashing the woman who managed to beat the new World No.1, Serena highlighted Barty’s horror record against highly-ranked opponents.
Barty’s loss to the 18th-seeded Wang made her record against top 20 opponents at grand slam events 1-10.
It’s certainly not the kind of stat you’d expect from a World No.1, and fans didn’t miss the opportunity to point out the Serena-Barty comparison.
Serena putting on one of the biggest clinics in tennis history. How the hell did Ash Barty lose to this girl? #WTF
— Anthony Hatza (@Hatza23) September 3, 2019
What a waste of a juicy Serena-Barty matchup. Wang was an embarrassment #USOpen
— Advil (@AtAdil16) September 4, 2019
At Wimbledon, ESPN broadcasters were angry with Serena Williams because she did not know that Ashleigh Barty was ranked No. 1 in the world in singles.
Qiang Wang, Serena's opponent, beat Ashleigh Barty on Monday, 6-2 6-4.#USOpen #100— Elizabeth Opondo (@ElizabethOpondo) September 4, 2019
Serena Williams utterly destroyed Wang. Whew! A breadstick and a bagel in under 45 minutes. This was against someone who beat Barty (the new #1 ranked player) to get to the QF. #USOpen 🎾 🐐
— Chidike Okeem (@VOICEOFCHID) September 4, 2019
If you're Ash Barty, what must you be thinking? You have a major this year, and are #1, but with no signature victories at a major against a marquee name. This was your chance to announce yourself on the Big Stage, you failed to get there, and Serena marches on #USOpen
— DropShots (@shots_drop) September 4, 2019
HOW did that woman beat Barty?
QIANG...looked to me like she just wanted out of there! You guys love to cater to Serena.....let's see about Svitolina or Andresscu...😎🙏felt sorry for Qiang— Peter Frystak (@FrystakPeter) September 4, 2019
Sheesh. Maybe it's good that Ash Barty lost in the round of 16! Don't think anyone is looking forward to playing Serena right now. https://t.co/iVuzpQLf5k
— Daniel Sankey (@Daniel_Sankey) September 4, 2019
Serena makes US Open history
Looking dominant as can be, Williams moved freely and powered her way past the Wang 6-1 6-0 to claim her 100th victory at Flushing Meadows - just one shy of Chris Evert's record.
"I never thought that I would get to 100. It is really unbelievable. From when I started here at age 16 it didn't seem possible," the 37-year-old Williams said in her on-court interview.
"I love what I do. I love coming out here. I am feeling good.
Williams had rolled her ankle during her fourth-round match but that was not an issue on Tuesday night on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
She grabbed the first five games in about 15 minutes.
Then, after dropping one game, Williams collected the next 11 points in a row and every remaining game.
Just one indication of how lopsided this was: Williams finished with 25 winners to zero for Wang, who was playing in her first major quarter-final after eliminating Australian Ashleigh Barty in the previous round.
Williams, a six-times US Open champion, will face fifth seed Elina Svitolina for a berth in the final.
with AAP
