Williams progresses into French Open final with a tough win over Bertens

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Wilson Blade 9

While Garbine Muguruza pretty much eased past Samantha Stosur in the semifinal on Court Suzanne Lenglen, in the simultaneous singles semifinal on Court Philippe Chatrier Serena Williams had to work hard to end Kiki BertensRoland Garros fairytale, just like in her yesterday’s quarterfinal encounter with in-form Yulia Putintseva.

Serena Williams

The world No.58 Bertens broke Williams’ serve in the opening game of the match and miraculously held on to that early advantage all the way to having a set point on her own serve at 5-4. Having not capitalized on that outstanding chance, Bertens’ fate was pretty much sealed, as it is a well-known fact that you get at most one chance to shake Williams’ resistance.

Kiki Bertens

After leveling to 5-all, Williams won the competitive first-set tiebreak 9-7, while in the second set Bertens hung in there, showing that she was not in the semifinals of a Grand Slam by chance, but she never truly had another opportunity to endanger Williams’ Roland Garros campaign, even though she opened the second set with a break and saved three match points before losing 7-6(7) 6-4.

Bertens had been on a 12-match winning streak, including her run to the NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNGSCUP title that the Dutchwoman won as a qualifier.

The Williams vs. Muguruza final will be a rematch of the Wimbledon 2015 championship match when the American won her 21st major title, while the Spaniard played her one and only Grand Slam final.

1 COMMENT

  1. Proud of our Kiki! Whoe managed to get herself back on her feet after a terrible 2015!
    And… I said to watch out for her after her win over Kerber 😉
    Too bad she had to get that calf injury…

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