A physical encounter with Victoria Azarenka took a toll on Serena Williams late in their semifinal on Thursday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium. A third-set Achilles tweak was exactly what the 38-year-old didn’t need against a fit, ferocious, shadow-boxing opponent who was clearly riding momentum against the six-time US Open champion.
After the match Williams told reporters that the injury—which prompted a medical timeout for a fresh left-ankle taping—didn’t have any impact on her performance down the stretch.
“It wasn't my ankle, it was actually my Achilles,” Williams clarified. “It just overstretched. It was pretty intense. Then that was that.”
The incident occurred one hour and 18 minutes into the match, with Williams serving at 0-1, 40-30 in the third set. On the point in question, Azarenka struck a backhand down-the-line winner past a temporarily hobbled opponent to bring that crucial game to deuce.
Williams hunched over her racquet for about 30 seconds before asking for the trainer.
“Oh my gosh,” she said at her chair before the trainer inspected the injury.
Four points later, Williams surrendered the critical break (from 40-love) that handed Azarenka a 2-0 lead. Azarenka’s winning run of eight out of nine points immediately before and after the stoppage proved decisive.
The 23-time major champion, who fell to Azarenka for the first time at a Grand Slam, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, did not want to take any credit from her opponent after the match.
“I think Victoria played well,” Williams told reporters, saying that the injury didn’t linger or affect her performance in the third set. “It didn't affect my play ultimately at all, just for that one point.”
Williams, who passed Chris Evert to claim the all-time record for singles victories at the US Open earlier in the tournament, has now gone nine consecutive majors without winning a title since returning to the tour as a mother in 2018. It’s the longest Grand Slam title drought of her career.
“I started really strong,” Williams said. “Then she just kept fighting. She just changed and started playing better and better. Maybe I took a little too much off the gas pedal at some point.”
WATCH: Serena Williams' semifinal press conference
