Serena Williams powers into final

World number one Serena Williams defeated Agnieszka Radwanska 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 on Saturday to reach the WTA Toronto final, where she’ll face giant-killer Sorana Cirstea.

Williams maintained her perfect record over Radwanska, her six wins over the world number four from Poland including a triumph in the 2012 Wimbledon final and, more recently, in the semifinals at Miami this year. 

Williams found herself in a tight battle against Radwanska, twice recovering a break in the opening set before holding to force the tiebreaker. She took control early in the tiebreaker, taking a 3-1 lead, and gave herself a triple set point with a cross-court winner for 6-3. 

She needed just one of those set points, firing an ace to seal the set. ‘This is what makes her number one in the world, playing unbelievable in very important moments and just very powerful shots,’ Radwanska said. 

But Williams was clearly frustrated as she again went down a break to trail 3-1 in the second. ‘I don’t think I was playing as aggressive as I needed to play. I let her play her game, which is what she wanted to do, but I wasn’t able to play my game as much,’ Williams said.

Once again, however, Williams rallied. After a medical timeout because of a stomach ailment, she regained the break to level the set at 3-3 with a fierce overhead winner to end a long rally on her third break chance. 

Williams then saved a break point to hold for a 5-4 lead, and broke Radwanska in the last game with a backhand winner followed by a high forehand volley on match point to seal the victory in one hour and 51 minutes.