CINCINNATI, OH, USA – Serena Williams battled back from the brink of defeat – a few times, actually – to survive a big scare against Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open.

Williams broke serve in the first game of the match but her momentum didn’t last long, as Ivanovic came roaring back and eventually found herself up a set and a break after an hour on court, 6-3, 4-3, and after dropping that second set, the hard-hitting Serb jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the third.

But the No.1-seeded Williams came alive from there, reeling off six games in a row to put the No.6-seeded Ivanovic away, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Ivanovic hit her 11th double fault of the match on match point.

Williams has now won 42 matches in a row on US hardcourts, the last loss coming against Victoria Azarenka in the final here in Cincy two years ago, and by the slimmest of margins – 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6).

Serena Williams tuvo que remontar marcadores adversos en varias ocasiones en partido de cuartos de final del Western & Southern Open en Cincinnati ante Ana Ivanovic para avanzar a semifinales y mantenerse invicta en 42 partidos en superfies duras…

Williams rompio el servicio en el primer game del partido pero ese momento no duro muchos, Ivanovic expuso su mejor tenis y termino ganando el primer set 6-3 y se monto en el segundo 4-3 antes de que Serena recuperara el control para terminar con victoria de 3-6, 6-4 y 6-2.

Williams tiene ahora registro de 42 victorias consecutivas en estas superficies, su ultima derrota fue ante Victoria Azarenka hace dos años en la final en este mismo torneo de Cincinnati….