Sport
U.S.Open 2013: Serena Williams rolls over Li Na to advance to final
Serena Williams against Li Na at the semi-finals of the US Open, Sept. 6, 2013. PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand/AFP
Defending champion Serena Williams wasted no time, and in devastating form defeated Li Na 6-0, 6-3 in the semifinals of the U.S. open on Friday.
Williams’ victory set up a rematch of last year’s final against Victoria Azarenka, who beat 83rd-ranked Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-2 in the earlier semifinal.
The first set of the Williams match marked the third straight set the No. 1 seed won at love, and when she held serve to open the second, she had won her 24th straight game of the tournament, dating to her match last Sunday against Sloane Stephens.
Williams is extending her string of dominance in the women’s game deep into a second decade.
Sunday’s match will mark her 21st Grand Slam final. She stands one win away from capturing her fifth U.S. Open title and 17th major trophy. This will be the first time the same two women have met in back-to-back finals at Flushing Meadows since it was Williams against her older sister, Venus, in 2001-02. It will also mark the first 1 vs. 2 final at the U.S. Open since 2003, when No. 2 Justine Henin beat No. 1 Kim Clijsters.
Williams took a brief break then turned around to play in the semifinals of the doubles with her sister. She is trying to make the finals of the singles and the doubles at the same Grand Slam for the first time since last year at Wimbledon.
In the match, Li only hit eight winners against Williams — evidence of how the world’s top player can keep anyone, even some of the biggest hitters, off balance.
Williams also served four aces and hit 19 winners of her own — 15 of which came in the second set, after Li briefly made things competitive.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press