Serena struggles into fourth round
NEW YORK -- Serena Williams survived an error-strewn performance to reach round four of the U.S. Open with a 7-5 6-4 win over France's Tatiana Golovin.
The American third seed, a two-time champion at Flushing Meadow, made 42 unforced errors against her 16-year-old opponent and had to rally from 4-1 in the first set.
"Nearly 50 unforced errors in two sets, that's virtually giving away a set," said Williams, who next faces 15th seed Patty Schynder, a 6-4 4-6 7-6 winner against Daniela Hantuchova.
"I was going for far too much. When I was down 4-1 I still felt comfortable and relaxed. But I couldn't get the ball in, I wasn't looking at it.
"There were shots that I really should have made. I was playing two opponents, her and myself."
Second seed Amelie Mauresmo had no such problems, taking just 57 minutes to complete a 6-2 6-0 win against Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela.
"I felt much more comfortable today with my movement and my groundstrokes, it felt like things were coming together," said the French 25-year-old.
Mauresmo's opponent in the fourth round will be 16th seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy who ended the run of U.S. teenager Angela Hayes with a 6-3 7-6 win.
Three-times Grand Slam winner Jennifer Capriati also advanced with a 6-0 6-7 6-3 win over Vera Douchevina.
Capriati looked to be heading for a quick victory when she won the first set, but the Russian opponent fought her way back into the match to make life difficult for the American eighth seed.
"I maybe took my foot off the gas a bit but she raised her game after starting nervously," said Capriati.
"She came up with some great shots but in the third set I took it up a notch. I'm feeling good, I'm feeling confident, I'm feeling strong out there. Being in New York with the crowd and everything I'm really pumped up."
Capriati next faces 12th seed Ai Sugiyama of Japan, who is yet to drop a set in the competition after beating Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 6-1 6-3.
Vera Zvonereva set up an all-Russian fourth round clash with French Open finalist Elena Dementieva as she beat Colombia's Fabiola Zuluaga 6-4 7-5.
