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Serena to meet Jankovic
04/04/2008 09:25 - (SA)
Miami - Defending champion Serena Williams beat world number four Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6 7-5 6-3 to reach the Sony Ericsson Open final on Thursday.
Williams will play world number three Jelena Jankovic in
Saturday's final after the Serbian overpowered Russia's Vera Zvonareva 6-1 6-4 in the other semi-final.
Former world number one Williams, who was struggling with
back trouble in the hot and humid conditions, is bidding to
equal Steffi Graf's record of five Miami titles.
The American had been practically flawless in her
last-eight victory over world number one Justine Henin but made
43 unforced errors against Kuznetsova.
"I felt I made a lot of errors compared to the
quarter-final," Williams told reporters. "Svetlana played an entirely different game than I expected her to play, but once I got used to it I was okay."
Twice in the first set - after the fifth and seventh games
- Williams was on the ground receiving treatment on her back
from the trainer.
'It got better'
"It got better once the trainer came out," Williams said. "The first time she (came on the court), she did something that worked.
"It got stuck out of nowhere, but once she fixed it, it got better."
Kuznetsova, who had beaten Williams's sister in the last
eight said: "I like playing both of them. I played better
against Venus."
Three of the first four games of the match were decided by
service breaks with Kuznetsova gaining the upper-hand at 3-1.
Serving at 0-40 in the fifth game, Kuznetsova hit a crafty
drop shot on the line that turned the game around for her and
she went on to take a 4-1 lead.
"I think if I played the right points at the right time I
could've won it in two sets," Kuznetsova said.
Finally scored
"When I was on top of the game I played too safe. When she was on top, I was playing better. It's uncomfortable this
situation because I thought I was playing well."
Williams patiently waited out the second set where she
finally scored a service break in the 12th game at 15-40 when
Kuznetsova crashed an easy overhead into the net.
Both players struggled to hold serve in the deciding set
amid the blistering conditions.
Kuznetsova surrendered her serve in the eighth game after
dumping a backhand into the net, putting Williams in a position
to serve out for the match.
The American thumped down an ace to set up match point and
then Kuznetsova sailed a backhand long.
- Reuters
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