Hard-Fought Victory For William Sisters in US Open Women’s Doubles Semi-Finals Against Alisa Kleybanova and Ekaterina Makarova

The matches have gotten progressively longer and more difficult. The results, however, have remained the same.

Serena and Venus Williams advanced to the US Open women’s doubles finals with a hard-fought victory on a windswept day at Arthur Ashe Stadium. In a match lasting two hours and 31 minutes, the sister tandem defeated Alisa Kleybanova and Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2.

The Williamses, seeded No. 4, will play the winner of the match between top-seeded Cara Black and Liezel Huber and No. 3 Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs. Black and Huber are the defending champions.

Wind played a factor throughout, but especially in the third set. After just three breaks of serve in the first two sets, there were six in the third versus just two holds, both by Venus.

“It was probably the most windy conditions I’ve ever played in,” Serena said. “It was tough, but everyone had to play in the same conditions.”

The Williamses will be attempting to win their third grand slam doubles championship of the year, having already captured titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. They won the US Open in 1999, but haven’t played together in this event since 2001. In total, the sisters have won a staggering nine of the past 16 grand slams they’ve played as a doubles team.

The quest for No. 10 as a tandem was challenged in the semifinals as the 13th-seeded team of Kleybanova and Makarova got up a break early and even had two set points at 5-4. But Serena answered with two blistering aces up the middle to get it back to deuce. Another ace up the middle set up a game point, which she put away with a backhand volley.

In the tiebreaker, an overhead by Serena gave the Williamses a mini-break and another slam by Serena after a big serve out wide by Venus would give the sisters the first set.

A framed overhead by Venus early in the second set, however, led to a break for Kleybanova/Makarova. The Russian duo would hold in all five of their service games to force a deciding set.

But as the wind picked up, the serving success rate went down. After three straight breaks of serve, Venus finally held after a furious backhand rally ended with a long backhand by Kleybanova. There would be three more consecutive breaks after that until Venus held again to finally put the match away.

A quicker match might have been better for Serena, who will play in a singles semifinal Friday against Kim Clijsters. Big sister, though, doesn’t seem too worried.

“It was a tougher day with the wind, but we did the best we could,” Venus said. “I wish I could have made more shots to make things easier, but Serena is in excellent shape. She’ll be ready.”