If that’s so, look out. She’s lost three games in two matches this week. She’s won 14 matches in a row and 29 of her last 30 on hard courts. Yesterday, she hit 10 aces, erased the only break point she faced, compiled a 25-5 edge in winners and made only 10 unforced errors in a powerful display that lasted all of 49 minutes.
“Did you guys see the match? Or was it too quick?’’ Krajicek asked reporters.
That was part of a pattern in Arthur Ashe Stadium: Winners Serena, Novak Djokovic (two), Roger Federer (seven), Caroline Wozniacki (two), and Francesca Schiavone (two) combined to lose a total of 14 games in five matches.
Djokovic won the first 14 games, sending reporters scrambling to find the last “triple bagel’’ at the US Open. Carlos Berlocq finally did win a game - earning a standing ovation in the process - but Djokovic won the match, 6-0, 6-0, 6-2.
As short as the top-ranked Djokovic’s 1 ½-hour encounter was, at least he put on a show while improving to 59-2 in 2011. He repeatedly toyed with Berlocq, including a back-to-the-court, between-the-legs shot to win a point in the last game. Djokovic then cupped a hand to his ear, as though telling fans, “Let me hear you!’’
Serena didn’t pull out any trick shots, but she sure was good.
“Sometimes when you’re on the court against her, you just think, ‘OK, she misses a few balls.’ … But she doesn’t miss a lot. It’s just tough to keep the same level as her,’’ said Krajicek, the younger sister of 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek. “I mean, nobody hits as hard as her. Nobody. Not even her sister.’’
Now Serena figures to face a sterner test tomorrow, taking on No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, who beat Gisela Dulko, 6-4, 6-3.
