Venus Williams v Serena Williams: Indian Wells third round – as it happened

That’s all for now. Thanks as always for following along with us and do check back later for a match report.

Second set: Venus 6-3, 6-4 Serena

Venus double-faults to open this crucial game, but Serena mixes in a pair of unforced errors. Then an electric rally breaks out ending when Venus pushes a short ball from the forehand side into the net for 30-all, maybe the first short ball she’s missed all night. Now Venus puts another forehand into the net for 30-40, giving Serena yet another break-point chance as the crowd swells. She saves it with an ace out wide. And a service winner on the next point gives Venus her second match point of the night. This time she closes it out and Venus has beaten Serena in straight sets for the first time since the 2008 Wimbledon final. A vintage performance in one hour and 25 minutes.

Second set: *Venus 6-3, 5-4 Serena (*denotes next server)

Venus hitting that forehand with abandon. She strokes a winner on the first point then just misses on the second for 15-all. But Serena takes control from 30-all and closes out the hold with a backhand passing shot down the line. Outstanding stuff. Venus will have a second chance to serve out the match.

Second set: Venus 6-3, 5-3 Serena* (*denotes next server)

Venus hits a forehand winner then watches Serena miss from the baseline and now she’s two points from the finish line. Serena pulls a point back, then Venus double-faults. Uh-oh. 30-all. Venus faults again and Serena steps into the court to pounce on the second serve, but she overhits the return past the baseline and Venus will have match point. Serena saves it with a passing shot at the net for deuce, then watches as Venus fails to hit an overhead winner into an open court. Now Serena has a break-point chance … and Venus mixes in another double fault! Serena will now serve to stay in the tournament.

Second set: *Venus 6-3, 5-2 Serena (*denotes next server)

At 15-all, Serena sprays a backhand from the baseline wide for 15-30 and the crowds buzzes, knowing that a break here would likely be fatal. Now Venus hits another forehand winner and she will have two looks at a break point at 15-40. Serena saves the first with a well-constructed point ending with an overhead smash, but Venus crushes a forehand winner from the baseline for her third break of the set. Now she will serve for the match after the changeover.

Second set: Venus 6-3, 4-2 Serena* (*denotes next server)

A titanic rally on the opening point ends with Venus attemps a lob winner that sails just past the baseline. A Serena unforced error makes it 15-all, but she then crushes a stunning cross-court forehand winner for 15-30. Venus hits a pair of service winners for 40-30, but an unforced error from the baseline brings it to deuce. From there a pair of winners gives Venus the desperately needed hold. Just two games from the finish line now.

Second set: *Venus 6-3, 3-2 Serena (*denotes next server)

Oh boy. Serena rattles off three quick points before just missing a backhand on the run. Then another unforced error makes it 40-30, but a Venus error gives her the hold and Serena has backed up the break. Huge service game awaiting Venus after the changeover.

Second set: Venus 6-3, 3-1 Serena* (*denotes next server)

Venus giving her sister no quarter here. She continues to crack the forehand and win points with superior movement. Serena manages to push what looks to be an elementary hold to deuce. That’s where the longest rally of the match breaks out and Serena manages to chase down a drop shot for a volley winner and her first break-point chance in ages. Now Venus faults … and Serena pounces on the second serve for a devastating forehand return winner. Can she back it up?

Second set: *Venus 6-3, 3-0 Serena (*denotes next server)

What looks like it’s shaping up to be a rare easy service game for Serena quickly turns as Venus wins three straight points from 40-15 down. Then facing a break point, Serena double-faults and now she’s down a set and a double break – placing Venus within touching distance of only her second victory over her sister since 2009.

Second set: Venus 6-3, 2-0 Serena* (*denotes next server)

At 15-all, Serena steps into the court and sprays wide an attemped at a backhand winner down the line. Serena misses again for 40-15, but then wins a rally on a lob winner set up by a beautiful drop shot. Alas, it’s not enough as another unforced error on the next point allows Venus to back up the break.

Second set: *Venus 6-3, 1-0 Serena (*denotes next server)

How about this? Serena was off to a fine start before coming apart toward the end of the game in a blur of unforced errors and gifting her older sister the early break. Venus in the driver’s seat early in the second stanza.

First set: Venus 6-3 Serena

And Venus punctuates a gorgeously played first set with back-to-back aces. Current mood:

First set: *Venus 5-3 Serena (*denotes next server)

Great hitting from both players here as the rallies are starting to pick up. An easy hold for Serena but now Venus will serve for the first set at 5-3.

First set: Venus 5-2 Serena* (*denotes next server)

Venus falls behind 15-30, but then Serena misses from the baseline for 30-all. Serena then misfires on a pair of shots from the baseline and suddenly Venus has consolidated the break and is just one game away from taking the first set.

First set: *Venus 4-2 Serena (*denotes next server)

Serena makes an error on her serve then Venus pounds a gorgeous winner for love-30. Now Serena nets a shot from the baseline – seven points in a row for Venus – and the elder sister will have three looks at a break point. She needs only one, breaking first for a 4-2 lead.

First set: Venus 3-2 Serena* (*denotes next server)

Venus holds at love, the first comfortable service game for either sister tonight.

First set: *Venus 2-2 Serena (*denotes next server)

From 30-all, Serena crushes an ace then watches as Venus makes an error for the baseline. They’ve won 20 points each.

First set: Venus 2-1 Serena* (*denotes next server)

Venus again falls behind love-30, but digs back with a pair of quick points for 30-all. She then double-faults and faces a break point for the second time in two service games. She saves it with a backhand winner from the baseline for deuce, then watches as Serena mixes in a pair of errors. Another hold for Venus from love-30 down.

First set: *Venus 1-1 Serena (*denotes next server)

Serena opens with a service winner, but Venus rattles off three quick points and suddently the older sister will have two chances at a break point. Serena saves the first with an ace then the second when Venus makes an error from the baseline. Deuce. They trade points back and forth: a second deuce, then a third and a fourth. But eventually Serena crushes a two-handed forehand winner from the baseline followed by a second-serve service winner to finally nail down the hold after a lengthy opening service game.

And it appears the world No1 is in the building … as a fan.

First set: Venus 1-0 Serena* (*denotes next server)

Venus falls behind love-30 on her serve and very quickly it’s Serena with a half-chance for an early break. Serena frames a return for 15-30, then Venus booms an ace for 30-all. Another Serena error makes it 40-30, but Venus sends a backhand from the baseline wide for deuce. Then a nice baseline rally breaks out ending when Venus strokes a nifty forehand winner on the approach, but she follows it with a double fault for deuce. Now Venus makes another unforced error from the baseline and Serena has her first break-point chance of the match … but it’s wiped away quickly as Venus crushes another ace. Now Venus hits another winner and follows it with another vicious cross-court forehand winner from the baseline for the hard-won hold.

One minute. Tonight’s winner will advance to face Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, who was a straight-sets winner over Julia Görges earlier today.

The players are on court and meet at the net for the coin flip. Venus calls heads. It’s heads and Venus elects to serve. They’re going through the warm-up now and we should be under way in the next few minutes.

Hello and welcome to tonight’s match between Venus and Serena Williams in the third round at Indian Wells. It marks the 29th tour meeting between the sisters; Serena holds a 17-11 advantage in the all-time head-to-head with victories in eight of the last nine and four straight on hard courts.

Bryan will be here shortly.