Top-ranked Serena Williams will make her first career appearance in the Western & Southern Cincinnati Open final after ousting defending champion Li Na, 7-5, 7-5, in the first women’s semi-final.
Williams, seeking her ninth title of the year, advanced when Li double-faulted on match point.
Li succumbed to eight double faults and had 12 forehand unforced errors, while Williams won seven of nine break points en route to the win.
In the final, she will play second-seed Victoria Azarenka, who beat 14th-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in a semifinal that featured 23 service breaks in 27 games.
Just as Williams and Li both struggled with their serves, their problems were minor compared to Azarenka and Jankovic, who managed to hold serve a grand total of just four times over three sets.
The miserable serving display emphasised by 20 double-faults, 11 by Azarenka and 9 from Jankovic.
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