Wimbledon 2018: Serena Williams reaches semifinals after beating Camila Giorgi
It looked dicey for a bit, but Serena Williams’ comeback train is still rolling on. She beat Italy’s Camila Giorgi 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Tuesday’s Wimbledon quarterfinals. Giorgi gave Williams a battle, with Williams dropping the first set. It was the first time she dropped a set at this year’s tournament, but Serena was able to overcome it and roared back to win.
Come-from-behind win
In the first set, Serena was pretty thoroughly outplayed. She was overhitting, and Giorgi was in total control. Williams looked uncomfortable and lost the first set 6-3, and with the way Giorgi was handling the match, it seemed like Williams was in serious trouble.
But you never count Serena out. She’s come back from a set down 38 times in the majors. In fact, her lifetime record after losing the first set is 38-35. (After this match, it’s 39-35.) Williams went up 1-love in the second set, and though Giorgi tied it, Williams won the next three games. Giorgi won the sixth game and closed the gap a little, but Serena had upped her intensity level and took the set with a triumphant shout.
In the third set, Williams won two games without Giorgi scoring a single point. Giorgi refused to let Williams pull away, winning a few games as Williams inched closer to the match point, but she couldn’t overtake Serena. Up 5-4, Williams got to serve for the match, and she won the game with ease. She had to come from behind, but now Serena Williams is headed to the semifinals.
Williams vs. Giorgi, both on and off the court
Giorgi handled Williams pretty easily in the early going, and wasn’t intimidated by the winner of 23 career titles. In Giorgi’s postgame press conference when her meeting with Williams was set, she wouldn’t talk about her upcoming opponent, and instead admitted to not following the sport she competes in.
“I don’t follow tennis, women’s tennis, and I don’t follow tennis … but I think it’s going to be a good match.”
That’s certainly an answer someone could give, but it might not be the best choice. (Though it was a good match.) When Williams was asked about her quarterfinal opponent, she didn’t give the Giorgi-style answer of “I’ve never heard of her.” Williams instead found a few compliments to pay Giorgi.
“I played her a couple times, she has a very powerful game. To be so small, you know, she brings so much power and energy on the court. She’s very aggressive. She does well on grass. I do follow women’s tennis. Of course I support women’s tennis. I support women’s sports. I follow so much of it. I think it’s super exciting.”
Williams has yet to face a player ranked inside the top 40 in the tournament, but that will change in the semifinals. Williams will play Julia Goerges, ranked No. 13.
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Liz Roscher is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter at @lizroscher.
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