Smashing time for Serena in thriller at WTA Finals
World No 1 pounds racquet into the court floor in frustration, but recovers to beat Wozniacki
World No 1 Serena Williams smashed a racquet and recovered from a set down as she overcame stubborn resistance from Caroline Wozniacki in a semi-final at the WTA Finals yesterday .
The two-time defending champion started poorly, but after her racquet paid the price, she dominated the second set and emerged victorious from a tense deciding tiebreaker to win it 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
The 18-time grand slam-winner will take on fourth seed Simona Halep of Romania, who was a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Polish sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the second semi-final, as she seeks the first hat-trick of titles at the season finale since Monica Seles in 1992.
It was really difficult. I felt really bad because she's so amazing and she's so nice
Williams' fourth win over Wozniacki this year, including the US Open final, was hard-fought and it was the third time this season she had been pushed to three sets by the resurgent Dane.
"Caroline played a great match, it was really difficult. I felt really bad because she's so amazing and she's so nice," Williams said. She's the only one who hasn't lost in this tournament and she really deserved to win."
The players are close and they sang along to We Belong Together at a Mariah Carey concert late on Friday, but friendship was put to one side as a grim-faced Williams strode into Singapore's Indoor Stadium.
