Courtney Nguyen
WTA reporter

What a bizarre game. Back to back double faults. She was collapsing on serve and she was out of rhythm.

That came out of nowhere.

Image source, Rex Features

What. On. Earth.

I cannot believe this.

Venus Williams has just served up an entire game of double faults. Four of them in a row. The crowd gasp in amazement.

Did that really just happen?

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

The top seeds seem to be getting out of Flushing Meadows as fast as possible, but there is still plenty of tennis going on - and another 70,000 or so spectators will pass the through the gates today. The doubles is in full swing on the outside courts now, while Borna Coric has had his knee strapped up as he battles at two sets down against Kevin Anderson on Grandstand. It could be last man standing in the bottom half of the draw, literally.

Image source, BBC Sport

Perfect start to the second set for Venus and this is now looking a tall order for Sakkari.

The 22-year-old yelps some encouragement at herself as she fights back to 30-30 but the release of pressure is only short lived.

More heavy hitting from Venus followed by an unforced error and Sakkari is broken.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Just over half an hour gone and Venus has the first set in the bag but a deeper look shows that was not perfect tennis from the American. Twelve unforced errors to six winners as well as a handful of foot faults.

Can she win this tournament on this form? The women's draw is wide open of course.

Speaking of Grand Slam successes in the Williams family... Bookmakers are already taking bets on Serena's yet to be officially confirmed baby winning Wimbledon. Can't ask for better genes.

Image source, Rex Features

Here's Venus serving for this first set.

She breezes to 40-0 before a double fault sees Sakkari into the game.

The American adjusts the cap. Big gold earrings swinging by her cheeks.

That's a punishing point from Venus and she takes the first set with relative ease.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Maria Sakkari is now grunting as she jumps into her first serve. She makes an excellent start to the game with her second winner of the match, this one off the backhand side.

A few errors from Williams follow and Sakkari survives a little longer in this set.

There's a bit of confusion on the final point as the umpire calls the wrong score but the players get there in the end. The umpire in the chair looks a little sheepish.

For the second time in the match Venus Williams has been called for a foot fault. Not something you see too often.

I remember a Serena match finishing in controversy after an outburst at a line judge over a similar issue a few years back but Venus is much calmer. She just shrugs and serves up a heavy second serve.

Another comfortable service game. Sakkari now needs to hold to prolong this set.

Image source, Getty Images

Courtney Nguyen
WTA reporter

Sakkari is a very fiery athlete and fiery competitor. She always does her best at Grand Slams. She can get usually get into the second and third round at majors. She hasn't been able to find the same at tour level but she will love being here playing Venus.

Image source, Getty Images

The serve has deserted Maria Sakkari.

Two double faults and Venus Williams has three break points...

Easy as that. Another error from the Greece player.

There's the difference in class all of a sudden. Williams strikes when she sees the chance, albeit with a fair bit of help from her opponent.

Image source, Getty Images

That's a much more comfortable service game for Williams.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

The crowd haven't really got into this one yet. There are definitely more bums on seats in Arthur Ashe stadium than at any time during this fifth day.

It's all calm for now but I think I know which side they'll be on later if this gets close.

Like Venus before her, Sakkari comes through a service game after being taken to deuce.

The world number 95 is looking calm on the big stage. It's a court Venus could almost call home.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Danger for Sakkari.

She strays wide with a forehand and is now break point down with Venus prowling at the other end.

Good first serve. She doesn't have the height of her opponent but that serve still had plenty of power and good accuracy. Break point saved. Deuce.

The Venus serve is not in full flow yet. She double faults to give Sakkari a look at another service game at 15-30.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Sakkari looks to take the game to her with more punishing forehands but can't quite string two points together that would give her the game.

Again Venus is taken to deuce but she holds on as Sakkri hits long over the baseline.

Maria Sakkari's long ponytail is swishing around behind her as she hits her groundstrokes with plenty of height despite being short in height.

You don't see this often from Venus. She works the point perfectly, setting up an easy put away at the net, but blasts the ball long.

Positive start for Sakkari. She holds.

Image source, Reuters

Venus battles through.

Maria Sakkari is taking the attack to her far more experienced opponent on the return of serve but these two fly over the baseline.

Venus wanders expressionless to her chair.

The Williams serves slowly gets itself going after a wayward start as a 113mph serve takes her to 40-30.

That's long though and we go to deuce in the first game of the match.

A crunching winner from the American but Sakkari hits back with a strong return. Deuce number two.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Here we go then. The warm-ups are done.

Venus is showing no signs of distraction at all with the baby news.

She is looking composed, slowly striding to the baseline.

Williams to serve first...

Image source, Getty Images

This year marks 20 years since Venus Williams' US Open debut when she reached the final as a 17-year-old, losing to Martina Hingis.

In fact today's opponent Maria Sakkari was just two years old when Venus made her debut at Flushing Meadows and Denis Shapolalov who we have just seen wasn't even born.

Williams is still going strong though. It has been a sensational year.

It seems as though Venus has just confirmed the news of Serena giving birth to a baby girl.

Asked what she thought about the news, big sister V said: "I am super excited. Words can't describe."