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TENNIS
Serena Williams

American women have strong showing in early U.S. Open rounds

Nick McCarvel
Special to USA TODAY Sports
Venus Williams of the United States celebrates after defeating Irina Falconi of the United States on day three of the 2015 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

NEW YORK -- If it's not heavily favored Serena Williams who emerges out of the top quarter of the women's singles draw in the U.S. Open, it could very well be another American.

Four more American women aside from the world No. 1 won in Flushing Meadows on Wednesday, with Madison Brengle, Madison Keys, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Venus Williams all into the round of 32.

Venus Williams was the last to advance, beating American Irina Falconi in a night match 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-2.

"Isn't it a great thing?" Brengle, the world No. 47, told USA TODAY Sports. "We have a lot of American women in the top 100, and I don't think the fans could ask for anything better. It's a positive all around."

Mattek-Sands, 30, is into the third round for the first time in 14 appearances in New York and will face Serena Williams. Keys, a 20-year-old who many have tapped as the sport's next big thing and is coached by Lindsay Davenport, is also making her debut this deep into the draw.

"Hopefully I can have many more matches on Ashe," said Keys with a toothy grin, a nod to her first appearance on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

On Thursday Varvara Lepchenko advanced to the third round as well, bringing the number of American women into the third to six. It marks the first time that more than five American women — six at current count — have made it this far at the U.S. Open since 2004, when eight did so.

Nicole Gibbs and Shelby Rogers play later Thursday, meaning the number could reach eight this year, as well.

It was a slow start for Serena Williams inside that same stadium Wednesday after she had won her opener two days ago in just 30 minutes. Williams came from behind in the first set, winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 against Kiki Bertens.

Mattek-Sands, her hair highlighted in a color of what she described as "electric melon," has no fear against Williams when they meet Friday. The two haven't played in seven years.

Does Mattek-Sands hesitate in interrupting Serena's quest for the calendar Grand Slam?

"Mess up the draw a little bit. ... That's a fun role to play," the Arizona resident said. "I go into each match giving myself the best chance, knowing I can win any match I go into. I'm focused on me and how I play. I know how Serena's going to come. She plays aggressive, big."

Williams played stressed Wednesday, however, looking anxious at times, trailing in the first-set tiebreak 4-0 before turning the tide.

"Today I was a little tight," Williams said after a match in which she hit 23 winners but also 34 unforced errors. "I think it showed.

"Hopefully I can get back to where I was before in my next match."

"I love it here," Mattek-Sands said. "The crowds here, whether it's a night match, day match, it's really one of my favorite events. Obviously being an American makes it special playing here. I'm really happy to keep going."

PHOTOS: Early rounds of U.S. Open

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