It felt like destiny, like Serena Williams was playing with the caress of fate.

Most everyone in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium expected her to win the United States Open on an electric Saturday afternoon.

Most everyone thought that she would beat Bianca Andreescu, the talented but still inexperienced 19-year-old Canadian, little known outside tennis circles until now.

This was supposed to be Serena’s day, a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title within her grasps.