{"id":8552,"date":"2013-08-18T06:44:45","date_gmt":"2013-08-18T06:44:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/williams-edges-out-li-na-to-reach-final-of-cincinnati\/"},"modified":"2013-08-18T06:44:45","modified_gmt":"2013-08-18T06:44:45","slug":"williams-edges-out-li-na-to-reach-final-of-cincinnati","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/williams-edges-out-li-na-to-reach-final-of-cincinnati\/","title":{"rendered":"Williams edges out Li Na to reach final of Cincinnati"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Despite an erratic play, filled with many unforced errors, Serena Williams managed to edge out China’s Li Na, the defending champion, to book a final place in the Cincinnati masters, in two straight sets.<\/p>\n

It was her first final in the tournament. And she reached it the hard way, having to stage a come-back in the two sets.<\/p>\n

The world number one, who has claimed 15 titles in the last 16 months and is bidding for her ninth this season, will play either second-seeded Victoria Azarenka or former world number one Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.<\/p>\n

Li ended the tie in unfortunate fashion, double-faulting on a set point in the first and again on match point in the second.<\/p>\n

The two sets were a mirror-image of each other. <\/p>\n

\"Serena <\/p>\n

Serena Williams: beats Li Na<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

In the first set, Serena ceded 4-2 lead to allow Li Na race ahead at 5-4. But with Li Na 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.<\/p>\n

She was helped by Li Na’s own erratic plays as well and a string of double faults.<\/p>\n

The second set went the same way.<\/p>\n

The finals in the men’s competition will be played by Rafael Nadal of Spain and John Isner of USA. Isner beat Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 6-7 (5\/7), 7-6 (11\/9), 6-3, while Nadal beat Tomas Berdych 7-5, 7-6(7-4).<\/p>\n

Juan Martin del Potro had double-faulted on match point to open the door for American John Isner, who turned the tide and triumphed in three sets in the semi-final on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Nadal fired 38 winners against Berdych, who ousted Wimbledon champion and current world number two Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n

Apart from six double faults in the second set, world number three Nadal had little to complain about in victory, his 52nd match win of the season.<\/p>\n

He is unbeaten on hardcourts, having won the title at Indian Wells in March before his Montreal win.<\/p>\n

Nadal came back 18 hours after beating Roger Federer in their marquee quarter-final.<\/p>\n

“I have adapted well here,” said the Spaniard. “I played a great match with Roger and today I felt I also played well, even if I was a bit streaky with the serve.<\/p>\n

“It was a challenge for me today. I never dreamed of this kind of a comeback,” said the player who is now in a position to move back to second in the world behind Novak Djokovic if he wins the trophy.<\/p>\n

“It’s just unbelievable the way I have come back to be number one in the season points race. I missed the Australian Open, Miami and lost in the Wimbledon first round and still did it,” Nadal said.<\/p>\n

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