Serena Williams overcame the in-form Dutchwoman, Kiki Bertens, 7-6(7), 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier. The world number one utilized her power and finesse to book her ticket into tomorrow's Roland Garros final.
Serena steals a strenuous first set
Williams and Bertens walked onto the prestigious Grand Slam semifinal stage for their second career meeting. The American was set to appear in her 31st career major semifinal. On the other hand, Bertens was about to make her Grand Slam final four debut. But the nerves from the underdog were not evident as she raced to an early break lead. Bertens fought through her apparent calf injury en route to a 4-2 lead after exchanging holds back-to-back.
The players brought the set's score to 5-3 after they exchange holds yet again. The world number one was forced to serve to keep her opening set hopes alive. As she has done many times before, Serena held on in clutch fashion despite being down a break point in the ninth game. The American crucially broke before the pair exchanged holds to move into a tiebreaker. It was the defending champion who edged the Dutchwoman, nine points to seven, in the opening set tiebreaker.
World number one wraps up an impressive semifinal win, books Wimbledon final rematch
Williams was fresh off an intense, yet clutch, ending to the first set and Bertens stole the momentum right from the second set's start. Bertens stole the first two games of the new set to put herself in a similar position she was an hour before. But as expected, the top seed clawed her way back to two games apiece thanks to two games of brilliant forehands.
Williams and Bertens maintained the set on serve as they arrived the second set to 3-3. But the 21-time Grand Slam champion powered herself to break Bertens yet again. Serena consolidated for a commanding set and 5-3 lead. The Dutch number one saved three match points before dropping the match in the following game. Last year's Roland Garros champion returns to the final in Paris after her taxing 7-6(7), 6-4 victory over the powerful 24-year-old in an hour and 54 minutes.
French Open final matchup is set
Serena will take Court Philippe-Chatrier once again tomorrow for the 2016 French Open women's singles final where she will face Garbiñe Muguruza. The American will go head-to-head with the Spaniard for the first time since last year's Wimbledon final. The final match of the women's clay-court season will be one to watch as two of the world's top four players are anticipated to battle it out for the divine trophy, the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.
