Google News Daria Kasatkina shares what Serena Williams told her after 2016 Australian Open match
by DZEVAD MESIC
Daria Kasatkina reveals Serena Williams told her she "liked my game" following their 2016 Australian Open clash.
Kasatkina, who is now 26 years old, made her Australian Open debut in 2016. That year, Kasatkina made a great start to her Australian Open debut, beating Anna Karolina Schmiedlova and Ana Konjuh to reach the third round at Melbourne Park and set up a meeting against Williams.
In what was the biggest match of her career at the time, Kasatkina expectedly didn't stand much of a chance against Williams, losing 1-6 1-6. At the time, Kasatkina was 18 and competing in just her second Grand Slam tournament while Williams was the top-seeded player and considered the best in the game.
After dropping a total of two games against Kasatkina, Williams stopped at the net to tell something to the Russian.
"I still remember this moment as if it was yesterday. Yeah, she said that she really liked my game, probably to play against," Kasatkina said on Australian Open's Cinema Sessions.
Like it was yesterday 💠🫶 pic.twitter.com/imc5hwMFcz
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 14, 2024
Kasatkina got dominated by Williams in their 2016 Australian Open match
When Williams and Kasatkina met for the first time at the 2016 Australian Open, Williams made a fast start to the match, breaking Kasatkina early for a 3-0 lead. In the fourth game, Williams had a chance to go up by a double break but Kasatkina saved two break points to get on the board.
However, not going up by a double break in the fourth game didn't impact Williams, who broke Kasatkina again in the sixth game for a 5-1 lead before serving out for the first set in the following game.
After easily winning the first set, Williams also started the second set with a break in the opening game of the set. Kasatkina saved a break point in the third game to win her first game of the second set but it didn't change much as Williams claimed two more breaks in the fifth and seventh games to complete a two-set win over the Russian.
That was the first and lone meeting between Williams and Kasatkina as they never played against each other again.