MELBOURNE, Feb 12, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Serena Williams overcame an error-
strewn start Friday to thwart Anastasia Potapova and ensure her bid for
history at the Australian Open continued.
The 23-time Grand Slam had 31 unforced errors but wore down the Russian 7-6
(7/5), 6-2 in 97 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to set up a fourth-round showdown
with seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.
“Definitely good to be in the fourth round,” she said.
“I came out of the blocks not like I have been (before). But it’s all about
surviving and playing better every round.”
The 10th seed had been in strong form so far in Melbourne as she chases
Margaret Court’s record 24 Grand Slam tally, but was out-of-sorts in an
error-strewn start to fall down a break.
But Potapova, 19, had a meltdown trying to serve out the first set with
five double faults squandering the golden opportunity.
A refocused Williams then lifted her intensity and won a tiebreak before
cruising through the second set.
Williams, the seven-time Australian Open champion, will on Sunday play
Sabalenka who thrashed American Ann Li 6-3, 6-1, with a place in the quarter-
finals at stake.