Serena Williams defeats Simona Halep in U.S. Open quarterfinal

Serena Williams served a ball at 123 mph, hit 18 aces and still found it difficult to dismiss Simona Halep, a fifth seed with a sizeable stubborn streak.

Williams, the top seed, eventually came to the net, deftly placed drop shots out of Halep’s range and found a way past the Romanian to win the quarterfinal, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, Wednesday night at the U.S. Open.

The match finished after 2 hours, 15 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium as 23,771 fans, including Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr., Queen Latifah and singer Tony Bennett, looked on. While Halep headed home, Williams knew she needed to recover quickly to return for her Thursday night semifinal against Karolina Pliskova, a stately Czech who outlasted Williams’ sister, Venus, in a three-set match during the Open’s fourth round.

“I’m still trying to get over this match,” Serena said. “I’m sure (Venus) will tell me something. I’ll be ready.”

 Williams, 34, entered the match in cruise control, having not dropped a set in her four prior Open matches. Playing for a record 23rd major title, she opened up the first set with a 3-0 lead, and appeared prepared to buzz saw her way into the semifinals, but Halep held on. She served notice early when she closed the gap to 3-2 before Williams grew energized to finish the set by winning the next three games.

“I don’t really like coming to the net, to be honest,” Williams said. “But I’m good at the net, I guess. I guess I’ve got to do what I’m good at.”

Halep absorbed blows as Williams located serves out wide and inside, with slice and without, for aces. Able to break Williams, Halep carried confidence over to the second set, and proved resolute in counterpunching. To hold serve in the second game of the second set, Halep fought off seven break points in a 10-minute game. Instead of wilting as others had in previous rounds against Williams, Halep kept pace, and trained her attention on the path ahead.

She hounded Williams, hurrying to identify angles past the four-time Open champion. In turn, Williams withstood it all, and displayed mettle in firing forehand winners from the baseline. Halep allowed that she blew two opportunities to break Williams in the third set’s first game.