1 Serena Williams vs. 2 Victoria Azarenka 

2013 US Open Women’s Singles Final

• America the Beautiful at 4:32 PM
• Nickelodeon promoting 10 and Under Tennis and youthtennis.com
• Vika looks a bit like Obi Wan Kenobi with her hood up
• GOAT count for Mac – 1
• 2:50 PM: we’re getting Survivor commercials
• Wind and shadows? 0-40
• Quick break for Williams
• Vika stops the bleeding and goes from 0-1, 0-30 to being 30-30 on Serena’s first service game
• The wind is playing a role as Vika has a break point for 1-1, and 3 errors plus a strong Vika return lead to 1-1
• Mini-run from Vika to get to 1-1, 15-0, but Serena responds with a forehand winner 15-15, but errors plus a slice forehand into the wind push Vika to a 2-1 lead
• Serena holds  for 2-2 but also says that she can’t play in this wind.
• Vika’s speed and defense is drawing errors from Serena in the wind.  Vika 3-2 on serve
• Vika hitting her spots more easily than Serena.  Mary Carillo and John McEnroe saying Vika is more easily playing her tennis.  My take is youth and speed are making the difference in handling the wind. Serena holds for 3-3
• Serena is settling in more.  However, wind and errors are upsetting Serena.  Azarenka holds for 4-3
• Serena gets a routine hold for 4-4
• 0-15 at 4-4 for Serena.  15-15 after a great point.  Has Vika let a chance slip?  Ace 30-15.  Forehand winner 40-15.  Error from SW. Vika 5-4 on serve.
• Serena missing serves into the middle of the net is not a good sign. Vika’s backhand up the line to reverse the crosscourt patterns has helped her on a few points.  Service winner for 40-30.  Deuce after a challenge and an error.  Ad Williams. *5 people just came over and I have a limited sense of what has happened, but a successful Vika drop shot leads to deuce.*  Backhand winner for Adv. Williams.  bad call overturned for a winner for Vika deuce. Serena winner at the net Adv. Williams.  Ace for 5-5.
• We’re at crunch time for the first set and given how bad the wind is, it may be hard for someone to find form and come back so this is a big moment for taking the match.  Winner and error from Serena have Vika serving at 15-15.  Error into the middle of the net off of a second serve 30-15.  Serena floats one long for 40-15.  Serena winner for 40-30.  This match lacks any flow due to the wind.  Tension filled but dull tennis.  Vika’s error leads to deuce.  Forehand winner, and Serena has a break point.  6-5 for Serena.
• Serena can serve out the set and more or less steal it as she was struggling for most of this set.  Serena with a winner that puts her 3 points from the set.  Vika needed to do more when Serena was playing spotty tennis.  Service winner for 3 set points.  Serena is in charge at the moment.  1st set 7-5 Serena Williams in 58 Minutes
• In overcast conditions and wind that does not allow for long points, Serena is unlikely to become fatigued as the match progresses.

2nd Set

• 0-30.  A Serena error ends a 10 point streak.  15-40 after a Serena winner, and this match is turning in a hurry.   Service winner for 30-40.  A break of serve Serena leads 7-5, 1-0.  This three game run will likely tell the tale if Serena wins the title.  
• Ace for 30-0.  Serena is rolling.  Ace for 40-0 after a replay of point.  Serena hold for 7-5, 2-0.
• 30-30 Vika has to hold here or this match is over.  40-30 after a big serve and drop shot.  Backhand error and Vika holds.  Serena leads 7-5, 2-1.
• Serena catches a line (?) for 15-0.  Error for 15-15.  Vika big forehand for a glimmer of an opening at 15-30.    15-40 no idea as my son was eating pizza near me (avoiding stains).  Ace for 30-40.  Error for deuce. Vika has to convert there to hope to win.  Return error for Adv. Williams.  Service winner Serena leads 7-5, 3-1 after surviving two break points.
• Vika looking to hold and keep contact in the match.  30-0.  30-30 and this match seems close to skidding off the tracks.  30-40 double fault skidding indeed.  Double fault again!  Williams leads 7-5, 4-1
• 15-15.  15-30.  15-40.  This is the final countdown, the guns of the Navarone, … 30-40 after an error by Vika on a long point.  Challenge or a break.  Serena leads 7-5, 4-2 as Vika gets one break back.
• 15-0.  15-15 after a Vika error.  30-15 after a failed challenge.  30-30 double fault.  40-30 after a service winner.  Forehand winner for a 2 game streak.  Serena Williams leads 7-5, 4-3.  If Vika wins (still a low order of probability), these two games will be a big part of why.
• 30-0 for Serena to blunt any Vika momentum.  Ace for 40-0.  Serena Williams leads 7-5, 5-3.
• Winning time?  Can Vika extend this or is it over?  30-15.  Forehand winner for 40-15.  Shot making when she needed it.  Error from Serena.  Williams leads 7-5, 5-4.
• 15-0.  Serena is 3 points away after a good point.  15-15.  15-30 after a nervy forehand error.  Backhand error 15-40.  30-40 after a forehand winner.  Backhand error.  Serena Williams leads 7-5, 5-5.
• 0-15.  Serena strikes back with a backhand winner.  0-30 double fault.  Vika could be all the way back to all the way out of it again.  Backhand return winner for 0-40.  Replay the point.  15-40.  Insert cliche here.  Backhand error 30-40.  Forehand error and Serena serves for it again.  Serena Williams leads 7-5, 6-5.
• Ace for 15-0.  3 points away again.  15-15.  15-30 after a long point and backhand error.  Service winner 30-30 2 points away – as close as she’s been.  Solid return and a backhand error.  30-40.  Insert cliche.  Double fault!  Serena Williams leads 7-5, 6-6.
• 1-0 for Vika.  This will be over in 10 minutes or Serena will be channeling Wawrinka.  1-1.  2-1 Williams after a Vika backhand error.  Backhand winner for the first mini-break 3-1 Williams.  3-2 after a powerful point from Vika.  3-3 after Vika hangs tough.  Changeover.  Forehand error – Serena leads 4-3.  4-4 after Vika earns an error from Serena.  5-4 for Vika.  No words as business is picking up.  Backhand winner mini-break for Azarenka.  Service winner to save a set point 6-5 Vika.  Serena saves set point as she was falling down stumbling.  6-6: 2 points away from something. Service winner 7-6 Vika set point #3.  Error.  We’ve got a match.
• Serena Williams is tied with Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 6-7 (6-8)

3rd Set

• 0-30 wheels are wobbly?  Regroups to hold.  Serena leads 7-5, 6-7, 1-0.
• Vika off to a poor start after a 0-30 lead last game.  Backhand winner for 15-15.  30-15.  Forehand error from Williams 40-15 for Vika.  40-30 forehand (?) winner from Serena.  Error 1 set all and 1-1 in the 3rd.
• 15-0.  15-15.  30-15 after some odd slicing.  1 set all.  2-1 Williams in 3rd set.  Deuce after a lot of action that I missed a bit of from a typing standpoint.  Break point.  Drop shot luckily pays off deuce.  Second break point and a double fault! Serena leads 3-1 in the 3rd set.  Azarenka may rue losing a 40-15 lead.  
• 124 mph service winner for 15-0.  Lob winner 30-0.  Ace.  40-0.  Serena is in control again.  Easy hold.  Serena Williams leads 7-5, 6-7, 4-1.  The match has turned quite a bit in the past few minutes.
• 8 points away.  Vika needs to hold here or this is likely over.  15-0.  15-15.  30-15.  Vika has to get a few free points on serve.  30-30.  30-40 on an “overcooked forehand” according to my dad.  Double break.  This is likely over.
• 15-0  3 points away.  30-15 on a lob reflex shot.  2:43 for match time.  40-15 after a return error.  Double championship point.  40-30 forehand error from Serena.  Backhand error by Vika.  Serena Williams wins the 2013 US Open Champion 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-1!   
• Azarenka tears, but Bill Clinton was applauding Azarenka.
• Serena praises the crowd and Vika.