Williams Revenge Venus Beats Roberta Vinci and Reaches the Final — WTA Wuhan

Vinci added sarcastically. Williams got in an indecipherable last word.

In Kuala Lumpur, top seed David Ferrer led a Spanish double into the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open yesterday by matching compatriot Feliciano Lopez with victories. The disease temporarily sidelined Venus in 2011 and seemed to put a damper on her career. She played an incredible match. She came into Wuhan this week up at No. 66 in the world.

Regardless, what Venus did on Friday should not be ignored. Williams has begun a late resurgence in the last month, and it all started in New York City. She would have become the first woman to do so since Stefi Graf in 1988.

Williams could now qualify for the season-ending WTA championships in Singapore, which she has not reached since 2009. Either way, Vinci’s handshake (if you can call it that) was quite lame. Williams was unlucky and drew Tokyo champion Agnieszka Radwanska in the opening round.

Berdych will take on third-seeded Tommy Robredo in the semifinals after the Spaniard beat Simone Bolelli of Italy 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Konta will return to Britain shortly and plans on playing in three European tournaments before taking a well-earned holiday.

Venus would go on to win the point and the match.

It was then Vinci’s turn to wobble when serving for the match. She shows no desire to retire just yet.

“I felt it at 4-something in the second set“.

The final set was the most gruelling and entertaining set of the entire match.

The former world number one was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2011, and while she continues to play a few tournaments, she has struggled with her health and slipped down the rankings.

But warrior Williams would not go quietly. Definitely not satisfied with just making the final.

She dropped serve in the next game but immediately recovered the break only for Williams to strike again and move 4-1 ahead, a position from which she built to take the opener.

Konta’s Lawn Tennis Association funding was dramatically slashed at the beginning of the year, as part of an overhaul of support for up-and-coming players.

“It feels really good to be in the semi-finals”, said Kyrgios.

“If I could I’d give this win to Serena at the US Open, but it doesn’t work like that in tennis”, said Williams.

Elsewhere, fifth-seed Garbine Muguruza coasted to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. “For sure we’ll play again soon, and it’s going to be a tough match, of course”.

Muguruza will play either Angelique Kerber or Coco Vandeweghe in the semifinals. Muguruza’s win came after beating Kerber at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Generally speaking, the first set was very close – as expected. Mostly first serves in. “Even down match point, I don’t remember what happened on that point”. Could she serve it out this time? So I said, No, no, I can not wait to get worse. “She hits the ball pretty strong”.

She won a string of titles on the ITF circuit and then, as a qualifier, made it all the way to the fourth round of the US Open.