American Tennis Icon Serena Williams has qualified for the fourth round of the US Open after beating Sloane Stephens.

Williams came from a set down to oust 2017 champion Sloane Stephens 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, in what she called an “intense” encounter on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“In that first set I don’t think she made any errors, honestly. She was just playing so clean and I just said, ‘I don’t want to lose in straight sets,'” said Williams, who will play 15th seed Maria Sakkari for a place in the quarter-finals.

It is to be mentioned here that the players signed an agreement with New York City authorities that allowed them to remain in the tournament under the enhanced restrictions, which involved daily testing and barred them from communal areas in their hotel.

Players movements are tightly controlled and everyone onsite is being tested regularly to minimize the risk of infection.