Coming off back-to-back tough three-setters, Serena Williams should expect a simpler time on court when she faces Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro on Saturday in the Miami final – which will be her 10th at the competition.
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Williams, who is seeking a record-extending eighth Miami crown, owns a 4-0 head-to-head score against Suarez Navarro and has never lost more than five games in any of her matches with the Spaniard.
After battling past Germany’s Sabine Lisicki in the quarter-finals, Williams was made to work hard for a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win over world No3 Simona Halep in the semis on Thursday, to take her undefeated record this season to 17-0.
One of the many great points from Serena-Halep, if you missed it. RT @roobynVC: What. A. Lob. pic.twitter.com/8aO0UXRPNX
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) April 3, 2015
In the last four, Williams came out firing on all cylinders in the opening set against Halep, breaking twice, smashing 13 winners and facing zero break points on her own serve.
The Romanian toughened up in the second, and she converted the only break point of the set off a Williams error in game nine to inch ahead 5-4 and then win the set. Williams raced to a 3-0 lead in the decider but Halep fought tooth and nail to level for 5-all. Williams broke to love in game 12 to register a fifth win in six meetings with the Romanian.
“I actually had a fun match,” Williams said. “I just feel it was on my racquet. I had chances in the second set but didn’t take them. That’s something I can’t do going into the grand slams coming up.”
The Miami-resident was full of praise for Halep. “Her game was great,” Williams said. “She plays so well, and it’s so good to see her play so well. She’s so young, and I actually love watching her play.”
The win guarantees Williams’ No1 ranking at least through Madrid (May 2-9), which would extend her stay at the summit to 116 weeks – the third best in WTA history, overtaking Chris Evert’s 113.
