By James Waterson Photo Credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
(September 10, 2011) Serena Williams advanced to her first Grand Slam final since she won Wimbledon in 2010 after she dismissed World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-2, 6-4 at the US Open Saturday.
Williams simply outhit her opponent, as she hit 34 winners to Wozniacki’s five and she broke the Dane five times.
Despite being constantly on the run, Wozniacki had her chances. She converted two of five break point opportunities, and unlike other opponents she returned Williams' serve well, as she won 40 percent of her receiving points.
"I think she definitely had opportunities, and she was really ‑‑ I felt like she never was far off. I felt like she definitely had a strong hold whenever she like, you know, had a chance," Williams said.
"She never gave up. I'd be up 40‑Love in a game and she'd come back. I'd be up 30‑Love and she had end up winning the game. So the first set was over 42 minutes, so it was like definitely intense."
Williams' return of serve proved the difference in the match, as she won slightly more than half of her receiving points.
The last time Williams played in the US Open final was in 2008, the year she won her third title in New York.
She missed last year’s tournament because of a foot injury she acquired after she won Wimbledon, and she was sidelined for the first half of 2011 when she was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism.
"I'm definitely a little bit excited (to be back in the final). You know, I really feel like ‑ I know you guys are like, this can't be possible ‑ but I really feel like I don't have anything to lose. I have beaten all odds.You know, six months ago I was in the hospital and now I'm in the final," Williams said.
"So I feel like regardless of a result, I have just, you know, have been a champion for everyone out there who are fighting against all odds, and, you know, staying positive."
Williams will face ninth-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia, who beat 92nd-ranked Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
The American has a 4-2 record against Stosur, and she won their last match, at the Rogers Cup, 6-4, 6-2.
Although she won that match, Williams said the final was still up for grabs.
"I feel like tomorrow going in we both have the same chances of winning. She's playing great. I have been watching her this whole tournament. I'm not surprised that she's in the final," she said. "She's such a great player and a great athlete and a nice girl. You know, it's definitely gonna be tough for me, so we'll see. You know, we'll see."
In her semifinal match, Stosur got off to a stellar start to her match against Kerber, as she raced to a 3-0 lead against Kerber, who was playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal.
“It was a close match, and I mean, the first few games was too fast for me. I come out there and it was everything new for me, so many people and the lights. As I warming up like two hours before, it was without lights, without people. Everything was different. It was too fast the first few games,” Kerber said.
Stosur said her experience made a big difference in the start of the match.
“This was my third Grand Slam semifinal. It was a good thing to have that in your back pocket playing someone who's never been in one before,” Stosur said.
“If I could get off to a good start, then that was going to be a bonus. I always try and do that anyway, but I guess in a situation like this if you really can get going fast and put your opponent under pressure, that's even better.”
The German found her composure at the end of the set, and she found a way to break Stosur’s serve to go up 3-1 in the second set. Another break of serve allowed her to take the second set 6-2, only to fall behind 5-0 in the third set.
Kerber showed great determination in breaking Stosur’s serve and then holding to extend the match, but the Australian served out the match after saving three break points.
On Sunday, Stosur will try to become the first Australian woman to win a Grand Slam title since Evonne Goolagong won Wimbledon in 1980.
“Obviously I went through those records when the French Open happened. Now it's kind of that same thing all over again. So it would be fantastic if I could do that and break that drought and set a new record, I guess,” she said.
“You know, going out on to the court I'm not thinking about anything like that. Going out there and trying to focus on the next point. If that ends up being the case, then that's great.”
The US Open women’s final starts at 4:30 p.m.