Serena Williams joins Victoria Azarenka in U.S. Open finals rematch

Defending champion Serena Williams advanced to the U.S. Open final with a 6-0, 6-3 victory on Friday over Li Na of China, setting up a rematch of last year’s championship match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

The second set was full of clever shot-making by the top-seeded Williams and fifith-seeded Li, the first Chinese player to reach a U.S. Open semifinal. They were willing to play at the net, vary service speeds by up to 20 mph, use lobs and cross-court shots.

Unfortunately for Li, she didn’t make enough of her shots, and Williams advanced to her 21st Grand Slam singles final.

Sunday’s final will be a rematch of last year’s final in which Williams won the last four games to beat Azarenka. Azarenka defeated unseeded Flavia Pennetta earlier Friday.

Li saved seven match points on her serve in the penultimate game, before Williams finally won on her eighth match point (but first on her serve) with a service winner to finish off the match.

“I got a little nervous,� said Williams, who is aiming for a 17th Grand Slam singles title.

Later Friday, she and her sister Venus will play fifth-seeded Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka in a women’s doubles semifinal.

Williams has lost only 16 games in six singles matches in this tournament.

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