Serena overcomes heat to go through

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The match began in intense heat with temperatures hitting 40 degrees Celsius. Kuznetsova, the eight seed, won the opening set and appeared to be getting on top of the American second seed who looked far from comfortable in the unpleasant conditions.

The momentum shifted though when the Rod Laver Arena roof was closed due to the implementation of the extreme heat policy and Williams returned to court to complete a come-from-behind win.

As in her previous match with Victoria Azarenka, Williams' serving let her down repeatedly in the first set, allowing Kuznetsova to dominate the exchanges in the American second seeds' service games.

Williams only got 50 percent of her first serves in, in contrast to the 73 percent by Kuznetsova.

The first two games of the opening set went with serve before Kuznetsova broke in the third game, but her advantage was short-lived as the three-time Australian Open champion broke back immediately when Kuznetsova fired a return long to get the game back on serve.

The status quo remained until the ninth game when a superb passing shot - the second in successive games - left Williams floundering and she handed the game to her opponent with two further errors off her backhand.

But again Kuznetsova failed to make the most of her opportunity, allowing Williams to break back to level things 5-5 before the Russian took control, breaking Williams again then holding serve to take it 7-5.

The set went with serve until the seventh game when Kuznetsova got the breakthrough and she kept the advantage until the 10th game when, serving for the match, a mixture of unforced errors by the Russian and a superb winner down the line by Williams allowed her opponent to get back on level terms.

Williams held her next service game then turned up the heat on the number eight seed and two huge forehand returns brought the American the break at the second set 7-5. Williams carried that momentum into the third-set decider and broke Kuznetsova in the fourth game. The nine-time grand slam winner broke her opponent again for a 5-1 lead and successfully served out the match.