NEW YORK -- If it seems Serena Williams versus the field isnt a fair fight, these statistics back up that astute perception:Williams has won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, five more than the other 127 women who lined up here at the beginning of the tournament.And wonder of wonders, a record No. 23 remains a distinct possibility after Wednesday nights dramatic 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 defeat of No. 5 seed Simona Halep.The match, which captivated the near-capacity crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, required 2 hours, 14 minutes to complete.I knew I could play a lot better, Williams said in her on-court interview of the second set. I felt I lost my rhythm, and Simona started playing better. I knew I had to step it up in the third set.Some takeaways from the highly competitive match:The shoulder is holding up: Serena pulled out of Cincinnati three weeks ago after accepting a late wild card into the draw; a right shoulder injury was the culprit. Against Halep, she had a tournament-high 18 aces, and blasted one serve 123 mph. In addition, Serena hit a 110-mph second serve -- on the line.Halep digs down deep: Serenas depth and power puts incredible pressure on service games. In the second game of the second set, Halep fought off no fewer than seven break points. A Serena backhand into the net, the 18th point, ended a 10-minute game, and sent off Halep on a second-set tear. For the set, Halep saved all 12 of the break points she faced.Celebrity Watch: In terms of depth and marquee, the best of the fortnight -- Pharrell Williams, Tony Bennett, Queen Latifah, Michael J. Fox, Rod Laver, Jimmy Arias, Jennifer Capriati.History still beckons: For another two days at least, Williams quest for an Open era record of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, a record seventh US Open title and a new mark for consecutive weeks (187) at No. 1 remains alive.Get your popcorn ready: Williams faces No. 10 seed Karolina Pliskova in a Thursday night semifinal that will feature the two women with the most aces among WTA players. Wow, Serena said, there will be a lot of aces in that match. Regardless, I look forward to it.Cheap Avalanche Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Colorado Avalanche Pro Shop . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . Jordan Lynch, the all-purpose Heisman Trophy finalist from Northern Illinois, failed to make it into that exclusive club. Colorado Avalanche Store . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Fake Avalanche Jerseys . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Alex Jeske threw three touchdown passes, all in the second quarter, and kicker William Will set a conference record as Dayton defeated Jacksonville 36-16 on Saturday.The Flyers (5-2, 3-1 Pioneer) scored 27 points in the second quarter to take control. Jeske connected with Matt Tunnacliffe, Adam Trautman and Jack Euritt. Tucker Yingers 17-yard run was their longest scoring play.Will kicked three field goals in the second half to pass Billy Cundiff for the conference record.ddddddddddddHe now has 52 field goals but his school record streak of 71 straight extra points was snapped.Ryan Wells threw for one touchdown and ran for another for the Dolphins (2-3, 1-1) but was picked off three times, one of five Jacksonville turnovers.Two of Daytons touchdowns in the second quarter followed fumble recoveries. ' ' '