World Number 1, Simona Halep was the underdog against Serena Williams. So it was not a surprise that Willilams won by a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 score. But it wasn’t easy. Halep put up a good fight despite the one-sided first set. Williams will next play Karolína Pliskova, meanwhile, has won all nine matches she has played this season.

Williams’s is aiming for her 24th grand slam title, at last equaling the Australian great Margaret Court’s total of major singles championships.Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, offered the strongest assessment. “I believe she will,” he said. “She is ready physically, I think emotionally, too.” “She is back,” he added, “to being Serena.”

“I have to return better, but I will be ready,” Williams vowed as she looked ahead to Pliskova. “She’s ready, I’m ready, let’s do it.”