World number one Serena Williams continued her impressive run at the North American hardcourt season by reaching the Western & Southern Open final in Cincinnati for the first time in her career. The American outlasted China’s Li Na 7-5, 7-5. Williams won the Rogers Cup in Toronto last weekend.
“I’m really excited to be in the final,” Williams said during the post-match on-court interview. “And I want to give a shout out to some guy back there – thank you! You helped me today. Actually everyone was so amazing – I didn’t feel great, but you were all so amazing today. Thank you very much!”
Williams had to tough it out at crucial times of the match, having to break Li Na’s serves as she was serving for both sets.
“Whenever I’m down I just get really relaxed,” the American said. “I was just thinking, ‘You know Serena, just try to do your best, and just try to do what you can.'”
Surprisingly, the American’s best finish at this event was in the quarterfinals in 2012 and she had made it a mission to finally win this event.
Li Na, the defending champion of this event, said that she’s still satisfied with her performance this week.
“Last year was better, but I was pretty happy with the way I was hitting the ball here, especially today’s match,” Li said. “Even when I lost the first set, I was trying to come to the net as much as I could.
“I tried my best tonight. I had some chances. I didn’t catch them, but I can do even more.”
Williams secured the victory at the Emirates Airline US Open Series by winning her semifinal match against Li.
“It’s exciting because no matter what happens tomorrow, I’ve won something,” Williams said. “And also it’s always exciting to win the US Open Series, especially being from America and playing all of the tournaments in the USA, especially tonight. There was so much support. It was almost overwhelming, but it was just really cool. I haven’t really felt that a lot. So it definitely feels really, really good.”
