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    Serena Williams drops a set at US Open but progresses to quarterfinals

    Updated 1024 GMT (1824 HKT) September 3, 2018

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    The first of many. A 17-year-old Williams beats Martina Hingis at the 1999 US Open in straight sets to win her first major title.
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    The first of many. A 17-year-old Williams beats Martina Hingis at the 1999 US Open in straight sets to win her first major title.
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    Conquering clay. Serena beats sister Venus at Roland Garros 7-5 6-3 in 2002 to claim her second grand slam at the French Open.
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    Conquering clay. Serena beats sister Venus at Roland Garros 7-5 6-3 in 2002 to claim her second grand slam at the French Open.
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    A few weeks later, Serena makes it a hattrick of grand slams with victory over Venus at the Wimbledon final in July 2002.
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    A few weeks later, Serena makes it a hattrick of grand slams with victory over Venus at the Wimbledon final in July 2002.
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    Serena comes out on top after another final with Venus, beating her sister in straight sets to win her second US Open title in 2002.
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    Serena comes out on top after another final with Venus, beating her sister in straight sets to win her second US Open title in 2002.
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    A grand slam of grand slams -- the first "Serena Slam." Serena wins a first Australian Open title -- and a fourth major on the trot -- by beating Venus in three sets in 2003.
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    A grand slam of grand slams -- the first "Serena Slam." Serena wins a first Australian Open title -- and a fourth major on the trot -- by beating Venus in three sets in 2003.
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    Serena wins the 2003 Wimbledon final 4-6 6-4 6-2 against sister Venus to defend her crown.
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    Serena wins the 2003 Wimbledon final 4-6 6-4 6-2 against sister Venus to defend her crown.
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    A second Australian Open title for Serena and a seventh grand slam after a 2-6 6-3 6-0 victory over compatriot Lindsay Davenport in the 2005 Melbourne final.
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    A second Australian Open title for Serena and a seventh grand slam after a 2-6 6-3 6-0 victory over compatriot Lindsay Davenport in the 2005 Melbourne final.
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    Victory over Maria Sharapova in the 2007 final secures a third Australian Open title for Serena.
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    Victory over Maria Sharapova in the 2007 final secures a third Australian Open title for Serena.
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    Serena on Times Square with the US Open trophy, a title she won without dropping a set at the 2008 tournament.
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    Serena on Times Square with the US Open trophy, a title she won without dropping a set at the 2008 tournament.
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    Ten years of grand slam success and a 10th major for Serena as she beats Dinara Safina in straight sets at the Australian Open final in 2009.
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    Ten years of grand slam success and a 10th major for Serena as she beats Dinara Safina in straight sets at the Australian Open final in 2009.
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    Another victory over sister Venus in a Wimbledon final and Serena clinches her third title at SW19 in 2009.
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    Another victory over sister Venus in a Wimbledon final and Serena clinches her third title at SW19 in 2009.
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    Serena poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy in 2010, her fifth Australian Open title.
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    Serena poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy in 2010, her fifth Australian Open title.
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    A two-year wait, but Serena notches a 14th major with yet more success at Wimbledon. She beats Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 5-7 6-2 in the 2010 final to level with sister Venus with five Wimbledon titles.
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    A two-year wait, but Serena notches a 14th major with yet more success at Wimbledon. She beats Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 5-7 6-2 in the 2010 final to level with sister Venus with five Wimbledon titles.
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    Wimbledon 2012 was Williams' first grand slam since spending almost a year out of action between summer 2010 and 2011 with a leg injury and subsequent pulmonary embolism.
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    Wimbledon 2012 was Williams' first grand slam since spending almost a year out of action between summer 2010 and 2011 with a leg injury and subsequent pulmonary embolism.
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    Thirteen years after her first US Open title, Serena grabs a fourth by beating world No.1 Victoria Azarenka in the final
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    Thirteen years after her first US Open title, Serena grabs a fourth by beating world No.1 Victoria Azarenka in the final
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    Serena with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy in front of the Eiffel Tower after victory over Sharapova in the 2013 final.
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    Serena with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy in front of the Eiffel Tower after victory over Sharapova in the 2013 final.
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    Another US Open for Serena, beating Azarenka in the 2013 final for the second successive year.
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    Another US Open for Serena, beating Azarenka in the 2013 final for the second successive year.
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    Victory at the US Open in 2014 moves Williams to joint-fourth in the all-time list of major winners, alongside Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
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    Victory at the US Open in 2014 moves Williams to joint-fourth in the all-time list of major winners, alongside Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
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    Another fine start to a year as Williams wins the 2015 Australian Open -- once again beating Sharapova in a major final.
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    Another fine start to a year as Williams wins the 2015 Australian Open -- once again beating Sharapova in a major final.
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    A second grand slam of the year and a third French Open after a 6-3 6-7 6-2 win over Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova in 2015.
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    A second grand slam of the year and a third French Open after a 6-3 6-7 6-2 win over Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova in 2015.
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    A third major title of the year thanks to a straight-sets win over Spain's Garbine Muguruza in the 2015 Wimbledon final. But there was to be no "Serena Slam'"of four majors in the same calendar year.
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    A third major title of the year thanks to a straight-sets win over Spain's Garbine Muguruza in the 2015 Wimbledon final. But there was to be no "Serena Slam'"of four majors in the same calendar year.
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    A seventh Wimbledon title for the then world No.1 and now equal with Steffi Graf's Open era record of major titles. "This court definitely feels like home," says Williams after her straight sets win over Angelique Kerber in 2016.
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    A seventh Wimbledon title for the then world No.1 and now equal with Steffi Graf's Open era record of major titles. "This court definitely feels like home," says Williams after her straight sets win over Angelique Kerber in 2016.
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    At the start of 2017, sister Venus is beaten in straight sets as a seventh Australian Open is secured and an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title won. Later we would find out she won while pregnant with her first child.
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    At the start of 2017, sister Venus is beaten in straight sets as a seventh Australian Open is secured and an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title won. Later we would find out she won while pregnant with her first child.
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    Serena Williams 2009 US Open Serena Williams 2002 French Open Serena Williams Wimbledon 2002Serena Williams us open 2002Serena williams Australian Open 2003Serena Williams Wimbledon 2003Serena Williams Australian Open 2005Serena Williams Australian Open 2007Serena Williams 2008 US OpenSerena Williams Australian Open 2009Serena Williams Wimbledon 2009Serena Williams Australian Open 2010Serena Williams Wimbledon 2010Serena Williams Wimbledon 2012Serena Williams US Open 2012Serena Williams French Open 2013Serena williams us open 2013Serena Williams US Open 2014Serena Williams Australian Open 2015Serena Williams 2015 French Open Serena Williams 2015 Wimbledon Serena WilliamsSerena Williams Australian Open 2017

    (CNN)Serena Williams insists her desire to win is "still incredibly high" after becoming a mom as she came through a tough test against the hard-hitting Kaia Kanepi to progress to the quarterfinals of the US Open.

    Williams, chasing a record-equaling 24th grand slam, is playing her seventh tournament -- and a third grand slam -- since giving birth to daughter Olympia last September.
    The 36-year-old dropped her first set at the tournament in New York but came through to beat Estonia's Kanepi 6-0 4-6 6-3 in 86 minutes.
      "I made one or two crucial errors and that cost me the second set, at least cost me the first game," Williams told reporters.
      "It wasn't that my level went down tremendously, it was literally one or two points which made a huge difference in that second set.
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      "Fortunately, I don't really feel pressure because I'm on this journey of getting back to where I was and I'm kind of enjoying that to be honest."
      READ: Serena sports striking US Open outfit
      "Right now is not the time," said Williams of having another child
      "Right now is not the time," said Williams of having another child

      'I'm going to continue to grind'

      Williams had lost only 11 games coming into the fourth round and looked set to cruise into the last eight after winning the first set in 18 minutes, but the unseeded Kanepi fought back.
      The six-time champion's serve got her out of trouble, however, as she served up 18 aces to break her opponent's resistance.
      Should Williams, seeded 17th, win the US Open for a seventh time, she would equal Australian Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 majors.
      She withdrew from the French Open before her last-16 match with Maria Sharapova because of injury, while she was beaten by Germany's Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final in July.
      Serena Williams
      "That desire has not gone down at all and I don't think it was capable of going up, because if it was at a 10, I felt I was at a 15 or a 20 and I'm still there," said Williams of her will to win.
      "I'm surprised it hasn't come down to a 10. It's still remained at that incredibly high level to compete and to want to win.
      "It'll be wonderful to win a grand slam while having a daughter but it's a lot of work. It takes a lot of work to win those tournaments. I'm going to continue to grind and see what happens."
      Asked if she was considering having another child, Williams said: "I've obviously thought about having more kids and it will happen, God willing, in time.
      "Right now is not the time. I'm thinking about playing tennis and enjoying this time with Olympia. I'll have plenty of time in the future to add to the family."
      Who do you think will win the US Open? Have your say on our Facebook page

      Williams vs. Stephens?

      Williams could meet defending champion Sloane Stephens in the semifinals should she overcome eighth seed Karolina Pliskova in the last eight.
      Stephens completed a 6-3 6-3 win over 15th seed Elise Mertens to set up a quarterfinal tie with Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova.
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        Meanwhile, defending men's champion Rafael Nadal beat Nikoloz Basilashvili Sunday 6-3 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 and will next face Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals.
        "It'll be a tough one against Thiem. He hits the ball strong and has a big serve," said the world No.1.