By Chris Oddo | Tuesday March 15, 2016

Serena Williams eased past Kateryna Bondarenko, 6-2, 6-2, to set a date with defending champion Simona Halep on Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open. Williams, playing in this tournament for just the second time since 2001, has won the title on two of her four previous appearances.

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Williams has yet to drop a set in three matches and has lost more than two games in a set only once in six sets.

Williams seems to be settling in for a run, and says that she’s not nearly as nervous as she was last year when she ended a personal 14-year boycott of the event and reached the semis before retiring with a knee injury.

“I'm a little more calm this year,” Williams said. “Last year I was obviously pretty nervous. My expectations were super low. You know, this year I'm not as nervous and I'm just excited to return again. Every time I step on the court and people cheer for me, it's just a different feeling.”

It seems fitting the Williams and Halep are pitted against one another again this year. Last year, Halep benefitted from Williams’ withdrawal and went on to take the title by ousting Jelena Jankovic in the final.

After a difficult December and January, Halep says she is in better health and eager to face the Williams challenge.

“Yeah, I'm working hard every day,” Halep said, after getting by Barbora Strycova on Tuesday. “I will keep working and the confidence is going up again and I feel strong mentally now. I feel that I have chance every time when I go on court. So I feel good. I feel relaxed, and I'm looking forward for the next match.”

Despite the fact that Halep has won just once in seven lifetime meetings with Williams, she believes she has the chops to mix it up with the 21-time major champion.

“I know that it's gonna be tough to win, but still, I have my chance,” Halep said. “I believe that I have my chance, and I just have to go to play my best, to try everything to win. First I have to believe that I can win. So then if my game is going well it's gonna be a good match. I'm waiting for it, and I'm ready to play.”