adminParis — Serena Williams battled illness and fierce heat to reach a third French Open final yesterday, defeating Timea Bacsinszky to move one win away from a 20th Grand Slam title.The world number one and Paris champion in 2002 and 2013 was clearly ill and distressed for large parts of her semi-final.
She trailed by a set and a break in the second before racing to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 win, reeling off the last 10 games of the semi-final.
The 33-year-old American will face Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova, who beat Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 7-5. If Williams win tomorrow’s final, it will put her just two Grand Slam titles behind Steffi Graf’s Open record of 22.
Yesterday’s result was tough on Swiss 23rd seed Bacsinszky who was making a living washing dishes and working in hotels just two years ago during an injury-enforced absence from the tour.
Williams said: “I kept trying to find the energy and keep fighting. I wasn’t feeling well.”
Williams, who went into the tie having lost just three of her 26 Grand Slam semi-finals, was clearly suffering in the 29°C heat. — AFP
Online Reporter