Serena chokes in Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic opener

The Serena Williams comeback tour fell flat at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic Tuesday night. Her numerous double faults were too much to overcome as Johanna Konta took the victory 6-1, 6-0 on Stadium Court at the San Jose State Tennis Center.

They met only once last year at the Australian Open where Williams held off the Brit and went on to win the season's first slam of the year. With both very well experienced, it would be to whoever would make their mark right away in the match. The American had shown a lot of fight making it all the way to the Wimbledon final. With that being her best way of getting back on track since becoming a mother, she would do everything to keep the momentum high and make a good start.

Williams had moments of struggling to warm up with the forehand creating errors in her opening serve but landing enough winners to secure the hold. Konta did the same to level the score in the second before getting a break on William's three unforced errors. She handed the Brit another victory having troubles returning the ball putting too much on the forehand second serve. It was soon 4-1 for the 27 year old as William's double faulted for a third time that gave Konta enough calm to deal with what was shot at her.

The Brit locked down the break point with a lob that landed far from the former world number one's reach. With a 5-1 lead in hand, Konta went along for the ride as Williams was not yet up to speed dropping the set with the Brit scoring two set points to put the set to bed after 27 minutes. While her second serve didn’t produce much, Konta score 77 percent from the first serve and had her second serve return doing the brunt of attacks on Williams scoring points on 10 of 14.

She continued dictating into the second set scoring two aces on serve before securing the serve to love. A second went to the Brit as her momentum remained firm with Williams struggling to put speed and accuracy in unison. It led to another break right before Konta took yet another hold of serve to sit three away from a major victory. Williams searched for a way to get into the set but despite her efforts to force deuce in the fourth, her unforced errors continued to rack up resulting in Konta going up 4-0.

She served up an easy fifth victory that left Williams with little more than to try and survive in the match. A double fault came right off the bat of her forehand but got a save on Konta's long return. A second double fault gave Konta two match pints where she put the return into the net ending things in 51 quick minutes. "I really just tried to play the match on my terms and did what I can out there," Konta said to ESPN's Renee Stubbs. "I tried to play the player of the day and I felt that I played better than her on the day and it’s a humbling experience for me to on this stage.

With the biggest win of the tournament under her belt, the 27 year old would look forward to Wednesday's second round match against American Sofia Kenin.

  

Watson earns hard fought win at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic

Heather Watson had a few problems on court but got the result she wanted to start the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic Tuesday afternoon. The unranked Brit had a challenge on her hands against Claire Liu but reeled in a three-set in on Stadium court to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

This was a first time meeting for the two and a return for the Brit in six years. Watson makes her debut to San Jose where she gets started after a break from action since July. 3. This gave the 26-year-old time to get her game into play with the part of the hard court season in action.

Both stayed on serve with solid work from the first serve but clearly suffered when they faced one another’s offense. Watson and Liu couldn’t make much count on the return side keeping the start of the set level.

With the advantage of leading after her serve, Liu attacked Watson in the sixth after she double-faulted during the second point. It led the American to force deuce with the 26-year-old and go for the break using her sliced shots near the line to beat her down. It didn’t work for long as a drive with the AD point in Watson’s favor was called out and stood after a challenge.

It got her in the seventh losing a 30-0 stance on unforced errors that handed Watson the first break of the set and the lead. Liu broke back with Watson struggling with the second serve but she still carried focus that was rattling the young American. She earned a double break with the chance to serve for the set. She made it count in the tenth earning two set points that gave her the match lead in 46 minutes. Watson nailed 70 percent of points from the first serve that did enough to get her where she wanted to be. Liu had some elements that were good but could be shown going forward.

Liu was having an incredible turnaround in the second set shutting down Watson on returns. She missed three from it that led to the 18-year-old to a 2-0 run. She made it three straight with another good hold of serve. Watson made it her best interest to call out the coach who gave her tips to overcome the deficit.

A hold in the fourth denied her opponent a double break in hand showing a heavier fight against the American’s serve. She got a second game under her belt giving the look of her taking back control. Watson found herself in a tight spot in the sixth with Liu forcing deuce. It became drawn out spanning more than six breaks before the 18-year-old found a way to score the key shot that gave her back a two-game buffer.

Watson didn’t let that bother her as she responded with a break in the seventh cutting Liu’s lead in half. The goal of leveling the score went south as she committed unforced errors that allowed the American her chance to serve for a third set. She did just that making good on her improving qualities to force a decider after 46 minutes. While her second serve wasn’t at a place she wished it to be, the 18-year-old had her first serve in play and building her confidence.

Watson put that to a stop as she came out on a mission to disallow Liu any further momentum. She went after Liu’s second serve right from the start earning a 3-0 lead. The 26-year-old went for the double break earning free points on her opponents’ forehand errors. She battled back to force deuce before earning the win in the fourth. It was the start to yet another comeback in the match with Liu making up all the lost ground to even up after six. Watson made enough mistakes to let the American back into the decider with very little left to be played.

The battle was on as control became a key to finish the match on their own terms in the seventh. Making the first show of effort was the Brit who dug in on deuce to make her service game count. Despite playing a few breaks, she got it locked down before taking a coaching call.

She tried going for the break but failed to counter Liu’s fight to keep with Watson for as long as she could. The American had to hold serve against the 26-year-old who served for the match in the tenth. She did get it done as Watson made the push to finish her off and secure a spot in the second round after 2 hours and 24 minutes.

With a well-deserved win, she'll take time to recover and analyze her game before she faces Venus Williams in Thursday's second rounder.

Nadal get back to Wimbledon semifinals in five set win over Del Potro

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Juan Martin Del Potro and Rafael Nadal put on an amazing thriller at the championships Wimbledon Wednesday night. In a match that saw all drama, nail-biting moments and extreme talent over the course of a few hours, the second seed came out victorious in a 7-5, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-4 6-4 match on centre court at the All England Club in London. It was the third grass court win for Nadal that would put him back into the semifinals for the first time since 2011

The world number two had the Argentinian beaten 10 of their last 15 matches with two of them coming on grass. They met in 2011 where it took Nadal four sets to down the 29 year old. While he’s only dropped a set recently against Gilles Simon, Nadal has been near perfect in his quest to gain a third Wimbledon championship. He would no doubt give it all he has to take down Del Potro quickly.

The first set didn’t see either get a lead on the other as they held serve through the first few games with Nadal taking point each time. They went clear through seven games before the first indication of a break arrived. Nadal gained two points on Del Potro's service but watched him to back to force deuce and stay on serve. The pace continued on to a five all tie with Nadal looking for the moment he could overtake the Argentinian.

After holding it together in the 11th, Nadal reached set point in the 12th with Del Potro under pressure. A long ball return from the Spaniard forced deuce but after one break, Del Potro errored to bring the set to a close after 54 minutes. Both had bad return games against one another but the difference came on Nadal's second serve where he scored six of eight against Del Potro's 9 of 17.

His conduction of the offense had him once again leading the Argentinian into the second set with Del Potro never falling behind. They remained even through the first few games showing no drop of composure after 90 minutes of play. After eight, the time came for Del Potro to make a change in control as he gained two break points on Nadal to win the ninth on a shot return wide to the right.

It was his first of the match giving him a chance to level up things with the Spaniard. Nadal denied him that chance as the world number two forced a five all tie that soon led them to a tiebreak. Nadal stayed calm and collected to do what he could to steal points away from the 29 year old earning set point with a three point lead in the tiebreak. He lost all of them with the last going on a rare double fault. It opened the door for Del Potro to get a short lead to take the pressure to Nadal and even the match at one all after 66 minutes elapsed.

With the win, Del Potro conducted the start of the third set leading the way with a hold in the opening game. Nadal leveled the score and continued on despite a clean serve to love for the Argentinean in the sixth. He answered every point that Del Potro put together leading them to another four all tie with the Spaniard hunting for a break. He never had a chance in the ninth as one error was all it took to spoil at the chance to gain control. Del Potro made him pay for it scoring three set point before taking the time to lay one just inside the baseline to take a 2-1 set lead.

With two hours in the books, the competition took a break with Del Potro asking for a sandwich from his coach which was obliged while Nadal went for a wardrobe change. They began with the Argentinian holding serve in the first followed by Nadal showing no signs of trouble. He stayed right on Del Potro's tail before he went for it in the fifth with the fifth seed committing two errors off the forehand giving Nadal three set points. Another forehand error gave Nadal the lead as it looked like Del Potro was running into problems.

He managed to not let Nadal get any more room but was once again trailing the Spaniard as the world number two rolled toward evening the match. The number two seed rallied to 40-0 love but gave up a point on a backhand error. He managed to hold it together to complete 3 hours and 36 minutes to initiate a fifth and final set.

The Argentine served to open scoring followed by Nadal who scored a serve to love on his turn. Just when it looked like that would be another big highlight of the match, Del Potro had a better one at 30 all in a 26 shot rally. The 29 year old jumped at a return he got his racket on that landed inside Nadal's end amazing the crowd. Every game became intense but as the fifth got into play, a break for Nadal came playing three breaks with Del Potro before capturing the win with a backhand error from his opponent.

He gained a two game buffer for the first time since the last set but wasn’t out of trouble. Del Potro delivered a service hold with a return error landing wide on the forehand keeping him a game down of the Spaniard. Control was once again challenged by the Argentine in the eighth as he took Nadal to deuce which had them in a tug of war for the AD point. After six breaks, 19 points and 13 minutes, the win went to Nadal who made a dramatic run at the ball to somehow still get it inside for a 5-3 lead.

Del Potro was nearing his end with very little options left for him but came out scoring his first point on a 106 mph ace. He put down another one for good measure before securing another serve to love on his 33rd ace of the match. While it was nothing short of impressive, he faced Nadal's service game for the match in which he had his return challenged which was long of the baseline.

He made up for it with big responses on the return game right before he leveled at 30 all. Nadal answered back scoring a key point for match point which he redirected on a cross court net front shot just as Del Potro lost his footing and fell to the ground. It brought a close to 4 hours and 47 minutes in what was a 71 minute set by itself.

"It was a very emotional match," Nadal said to the BBC during his off court interview. "To be back in the semifinals here at Wimbledon, it is an amazing feeling."

Both athletes tallied 340 combined points, 145 winners and 86 unforced errors. When it came to the serves, Nadal had his well under lock scoring 74 percent. With a very tough competitor out of the way, another rose in his path setting up a true battle of the titans of tennis with Novak Djokovic on Friday.