U.S. OPEN 2013 - SERENA MEETS AZARENKA ONCE AGAIN FOR AN EPIC BATTLE.
SERENA WILLIAMS seemed to have a little tough match with Li Na, which she literally won to reach the Finals of U.S. Open Women's Finals on Sunday evening. The defending champion won the first seven games on Friday's match, then was slowed down by a break in the beginning of the second set, but quickly regained and won the match with a straight set victory of 6-0, 6-3 over Li-Na.The day's highlight was in the second-to-last game, an affair that went eight deuces and went on for 13 minutes, 49 seconds. Li went on to save 6 match points, but it only deferred the determined. Though William dropped two points in the next game, she ended it with a 107 mph service winner and a long, celebratory scream.
"It got tough at the end. I got a little nervous, but I was able to close it out finally," Williams said.Azarenka on the other hand fought her way through to the finals beating Flavia Pennetta with a straight set of 6-4, 6-2. She won the match even though she made 25 unforced errors and with only 15 winners. When she in won the 3rd match point she let out her last shrieks to announce her victory over the 83rd seeded Flavia.
"It was a little bit tricky. I couldn't find my rhythm at the beginning. I felt I was rushing too much. I couldn't really put the ball in play. It's good I stayed tough, played well in the return game at important moments," said the excited Azarenka.
Sundays match will mark Serena's 21st Grand Slam final. She is just one victory away from getting her 5th U.S.Open title. It will also be her 17th Major trophy. This will also be the first time that the same two women will be meeting the consecutive year in a finals at Flushing Meadows since it the Williams sister meeting in 2001-02.Williams wore a pink shoe specially designed with tiny hearts on the heels, each of them with a number inside depicting all the years she won the trophy in -'99,'02,'08,'12. Azarenka seems to be the only hurdle she has to cross to win her 5th U.S. Open title.
Azarenka on the other hand is the winner of the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open Championship, is fighting really hard to win the New York tournament in the same year as done by Martina Hingis in 1997.
"We always have really good matches. I look forward to it," Williams said. "It's great to get to another final. She's a great player and she lifts her game when it really counts."
