Error-prone Li dumped out by Williams
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E-mail China.org.cn, August 18, 2013
World No. 1 Serena Williams fought her way to reach the final of the Western and Southern Open on Saturday and close in on one of the few titles to elude her.
The 16-time grand slam champion survived two tight sets 7-5,7-5 against defending champion Li Na in the semifinal.
Li stepped onto centre court well-rested having received a walkover into the semi-finals when Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska withdrew from the tournament to attend her grandfather's funeral.
But the 31-year-old got off to a sluggish start as Williams recorded the early break to move ahead 4-1.
The 5th seed hit back, sweeping through the next four games to pull in front 5-4, but with Li serving for the set, Serena stepped up her game to break her and then seized the lead to close up the set at 7-5.
Williams and Li held serve to open the second but the set would soon dissolve into series of breaks.
In the end, Williams claimed the decisive one when Li double-faulted to end her Cincinnati defence and hand Williams the match.
Li succumbed to eight double faults and had 12 forehand unforced errors. Williams won seven of nine break point attempts to solidify the victory.
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