Serena Joins Azarenka, Stosur, Radwanska in Toronto Semis
By Matt Hursh Photo Credit: Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA
In the final match of the day on Friday, Serena Williams clinched the final semifinal spot in Toronto when she rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Czech Lucie Safarova.
Although she is ranked No. 79 in the world, Williams remains a favorite in a tournament that has seen its top eight of its top nine players bounced in the early rounds.
It wasn’t a clean cut victory for the American, but she will gladly take it going into a semifinal match against World No. 4 Victoria Azarenka.
On Friday, Safarova and Williams played an even first set that was decided by just one break of serve. Though each player earned just one break point in the set, Safarova was the only one who was able to convert it into a break.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion found her game in the final two sets, as she used a dominant service game to put Safarova away. Williams did not face a break point and allowed her Czech opponent just ten return points over the course of the final two sets.
A third set featuring two breaks of serve for Williams culminated a match that lasted just over two hours. She became the only unseeded player to make the semis in the lone quarterfinal match that lasted three sets.