Aces high! Serena battles back against Zheng to move into second week of Wimbledon
Serena Williams blasted a record 23 aces to dig herself out of trouble in front of Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman.
But when all was said and done, you had the impression that Serena was more impressed by Hoffman than the actor was by Serena.
'She wasn't playing her best, whereas her opponent was,' Hoffman commented afterwards.
A spring in her step: Serena Williams celebrates a hard-fought win over Zheng Jie in exuberant fashion
Serena did not disagree.
'My return wasn't going as well as usual,' she admitted. 'I had to dig pretty deep. But I'm really strong mentally.'
And what she found, 'in that place where they go', as Hoffman described it later, were aces … plenty of them.
Zheng Jie was coming up with brutal doublehanded backhands, exquisitely timed punchy forehands, and for a while it looked as though she had the measure of the American.
When Williams fired wild and wide to end her own hopes in the first-set tiebreak, you wondered whether a shock might be on the cards.
True, the Chinese woman is a previous Wimbledon semi-finalist, with scarcely a weakness in her game. But you expected Serena to win through more easily somehow, given her superior power and history.
Hoffman's arrival may have inspired her.
'I knew he was coming, I was honoured to have him in my box, and it didn't distract me,' she insisted.
Fist of fury: Serena celebrates a point
'I'm a massive fan of Dustin Hoffman. Who isn't a massive fan of Dustin Hoffman? He's a great actor, I mean come on, "The Graduate!" He's award-winning.'
Serena, who shares the same agent as Hoffman but had never met him, has a few awards of her own, including 13 Grand Slam titles.
On the basis that you are only as good as your last project - and Hoffman looks intensely satisfied with the all-British film he is just completing, 'The Quartet' - Serena had a little work to do by the time Hoffman settled in his seat.
A set down, a game down, 15-30 down … then an ace dug her out of a hole.
Williams began to break Zheng's spirit, or so it seemed when she romped to a 6-2 comeback in the second set.
The first set had lasted 52 minutes, the second only 26. Suddenly Serena looked deceptively mobile instead of sluggish and troubled.
All the class and power was taking her to a famous win - except Zheng had other ideas.
That's what made that epic final set - a marathon in front of 'Marathon Man' - such a hugely enjoyable Centre Court spectacle.
In the fourth game, Zheng had three break points. Williams came up with aces to save the third and win the game.
Giving it her best shot: Zheng Jie gave Serena a scare
Yet, the Asian, 29 next week, wouldn't give in, and she scrapped her way to within two points of victory.
Under pressure, it has to be said, her aim went awry, her composure shaken perhaps by the anticipation of victory.
Williams, in contrast, closed in for the kill.
A deep return left Zheng with no answer, except to mishit and give away what became her final service game.
Serena was already celebrating the big points as though she had won.
Even on the last point, however, Zheng chased everything into the corners, until the court was empty and Williams guided her final winner into the empty space.
Tough at the top: Serena Williams in action
The American jumped for joy, the enthusiasm still there in a woman who began the game aged three and is now the wrong side of 30.
Zheng revealed what happened next
Balotelli now has the attitude to match the talent, insists Prandelli as Italy prepare for Euro 2012 final showdown with Spain
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has praised Mario Balotelli's attitude ahead of Sunday's Euro 2012 final with Spain.
Balotelli needs one more goal to take the lead in the Golden Boot standings, knowing achieving that aim would take Italy a long way towards lifting the trophy.
It has seemed the 21-year-old has thrived on the responsibility Prandelli has afforded him during these championships, and his semi-final double was proof of that.
Forza Italia: Mario Balotelli (left) and Gianluigi Buffon (right, top), Andrea Pirlo (centre) and Claudio Marchisio (right) disembark from Italy's team plane on arrival at the airport in Kiev on Saturday afternoon
One day to go: Italy forward Antonio Cassano arrives in Kiev ahead of the final with his son and wife
Nice to see Liu
Published: Today at 00:46
WHAT a plucky bunch. China’s first woman astronaut Liu Yang and her two male crewmates salute and clutch bouquets yesterday after their safe return.
Liu, 33, flew on a 13-day mission to an orbiting module that is a prototype for a future Chinese space station.
The air force pilot said: “Our home in space was comfortable and pleasant. We’re very proud of our nation.”
Their capsule landed in Inner Mongolia.
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