Serena Williams began her US Open quarter-final tentatively. Her shots lacked their usual sting, her attitude its usual conviction.
She was facing the last player to beat her at Flushing Meadows. She kept looking up her coach, as if seeking solutions.
After just 20 minutes on Tuesday night, Williams was in danger of trailing by two service breaks. Not much later, the outcome was no longer in doubt, because the 23-time Grand Slam champion suddenly was in complete control.
Williams recovered from the early jitters with an eight-game run en route to a 6-4 6-3 victory over Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova for a spot in the semi-finals.
It was Williams' first win over a top-10 player as a mum.
"I was playing really not a good game," Williams, who was a point from trailing by two break in the opening set, said.
"I was thinking, 'You know, I can play better.' So that was the good news."
Pliskova offered this guess about what was happening to Williams: "Maybe she was a little bit nervous."
Maybe. But that didn't last long as the 36-year-old American advanced to the last four of the US Open for the 12th time.
"Well, I want to just be able to get past the semis here. It's been a few, couple, rough semis for me," Williams said.
"But regardless, this has been a great road."
Her semi-final opponent will be 19th seeded Anastasija Sevastova, who stunned defending champion Sloane Stephens 6-2 6-3 in stiflingly hot conditions earlier on Tuesday.
Stephens, who said she had been dealing with a sinus infection, rued all of her wasted opportunities against Sevastova, most notably the seven break points she failed to convert in the first set.
When someone urged her to raise her level in the second set, Stephens replied, "I'm trying!"
Sevastova, who retired in 2013 because of injuries and returned nearly two years later, advanced to her first grand slam semi-final.
"Still long way to go, I think," the Latvian said.
Especially considering that the next step will come against Williams, who's aiming for a record-equalling 24th major title.
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