Serena cruises into final; set up for repeat

It will be a really good match for me and kind of test where I am, you know, just in general. But she stormed back, winning the final six games to make her way into the final four.

Svitolina, who beat No. 7 Lucie Safarova 6-4, 2-6, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, simply didn’t have the firepower to stay with Williams.

There is no further word yet as to whether Bencic will compete in the US Open. Svitolina took full advantage of this, getting off to a flying start, breaking in the opening game.

Halep’s win will move her ahead of Maria Sharapova, who withdrew from Cincinnati because of a leg injury, into the No. 2 seed for the U.S. Open. But once again, Williams was too strong for the WTA Rising Star to withstand, holding for 5-4.

But the No.1-seeded Williams sprung into action from there, winning 11 of the next 15 games to beat the hard-hitting Ukrainian, 6-4, 6-3, ripping an ace on match point – her 33rd victor of the match. Ivanovic, on the other hand did not let the break affect her game plan and came back soaring to take the first set 6-3.

Williams opened the second set with her in clear view of victory, as the game of Svitolina was its most vulnerable.

Williams won her 47th match against just two defeats this season.

“But I managed to start going for my shots and that helped me out”.

She took the next two with the opportunity of playing for the match as Svitolina’s serve continued to slide serving her eighth double fault.

She would’ve met Williams in her semi. It was only his second loss to the his fellow Spaniard out of nine meeting, with losses to players he’s owned in the past besting him more frequently these days as he struggles with confidence. “I just hope it will get better and I’m sure I will be fit very soon – now I still need to talk with the team and decide what to do”.